4 


THK 


SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS 


NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS 


IN    THE 


WAR   OF    REBELLION 

1861-1865 


BY 


WILLIAM   JyODD 

(of  Company  B) 


ILLUSTRATED 


ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

PRESS  OF  BRANDOW,  BARTON  ,V  CO. 
1886 


COPYRIGHT  BY 
WILLIAM     TODD 


TO    THE 

fHotljcrs  anrj  llliucs,  tl)c  Sisters  cmb  Siueetljcavts, 

WHO    SENT   US   OUT   WITH   THEIR   PRAYERS   AND    BLESSINGS, 

AND    WELCOMED    US    HOME    AGAIN — THOSE    OF 

US    THAT    RETURNED  —  WITH    JOY    AND 

THANKSGIVING,     THESE     PAGES 

ARE  LOVINGLY  INSCRIBED 

BY   THE  AUTHOR. 


THE  MAID  \vho  binds  her  warrior's  sash 

With  smile  that  well  her  pain  dissembles, 
The  while  beneath  her  drooping  lash 

One  starry  tear-drop  hangs  and  trembles, 
Though  Heaven  alone  records  the  tear, 

And  Fame  shall  never  know  her  story, 
Her  heart  has  shed  a  drop  as  dear 

As  e'er  bedewed  the  field  of  glory  ! 

The  wife  who  girds  her  husband's  sword, 

'Mid  little  ones  who  weep  or  wonder, 
And  bravely  speaks  the  cheering  word, 

What  though  her  heart  be  rent  asunder, 
Doomed  nightly  in  her  dreams  to  hear 

The  bolts  of  death  around  him  rattle, 
Hath  shed  as  sacred  blood  as  e'er 

Was  poured  upon  the  field  of  battle  ! 

The  mother  who  conceals  her  grief 

While  to  her  breast  her  son  she  presses, 
Then  breathes  a  few  brave  words  and  brief, 

Kissing  the  patriot  brow  she  blesses, 
With  no  one  but  her  secret  God 

To  know  the  pain  that  weighs  upon  her, 
Sheds  holy  blood  as  e'er  the  sod 

Received  on  Freedom's  field  of  honor  ! 

THOMAS  BUCHANAN  READ. 


PREFACE. 


T  T  is  said  that  when  Dr.  Johnson  first  heard  of  Bos  well's 
intention  to  write  his  life,  he  said  emphatically  that 
if  he  thought  Boswell  really  meant  to  write  his  life,  he 
would  prevent  it  by  taking  Boswell's  !  It  is  possible  that 
some  of  my  readers  may  wish  that  the  author's  name 
had  been  enrolled  years  ago  among  the  list  of  killed  in 
some  one  of  the  battles  so  imperfectly  described  in  these 
pages. 

It  is  over  twenty  years  since  the  war  closed,  and  the 
writer  has  waited,  hoping  that  some  one  more  capable 
would  perform  the  task  of  recording  the  deeds  of  the 
New  York  "  Highlanders." 

Objection  has  frequently  been  made — and  with  a  good 
deal  of  reason — that  all  regimental  histories  represent 
their  organizations  as  doing  most  of  the  fighting  and 
least  of  the  running.  Well,  "De  mortuis  nil  nisi  bonum  " 
may  be  applied  as  properly  to  volunteer  regiments  that 
fought  during  the  war,  and  whose  existence  ended  with 
its  close,  as  to  individuals,  and  if  we  should  speak  no 
ill  of  the  dead,  neither,  perhaps,  should  we  say  aught  but 
good  of  our  own  regiments.  The  writer  has  not  adhered 
strictly  to  this  rule,  however,  as  his  pages  will  show. 

It  may  be  thought  that,  in  the  accounts  of  battles,  the 
parts  taken  by  associate  regiments  are  not  sufficiently 
described  ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  this  is  the 
history  of  but  one  regiment.  Let  it  be  understood,  then, 
that  while  the  writer  has  endeavored  to  be  minute  in 
showing  what  the  Highlanders  did,  he  does  not  wish  to 


X  PREFACE. 

pluck  a  single  leaf  from  the  wreaths  of  glory  won  by 
other  regiments  of  his  brigade,  division,  corps  or  army. 

The  idea  has  ever  prevailed  in  the  minds  of  those  un 
familiar  with  actual  warfare  that,  as  a  rule,  soldiers 
are  ' '  eager  for  the  fray ; "  that  the  sound  of  battle 
acts  upon  their  nerves  as  a  red  flag  inflames  the  passions 
of  a  bull,  and  that  every  man  becomes  a  hero  at  once. 
This  error  should  be  corrected.  The  disciplined  soldier  is 
always  ready  to  obey  orders,  without  hesitation,  be  they 
to  advance  against  the  enemy  or  to  fall  back  before 
him,  and  this  is  really  his  highest  praise.  Without 
such  subordination  battles  could  not  be  fought.  In 
stances  where  troops  demand  to  be  led  against  the  enemy 
are  the  exception,  and  are  as  rare  as  hand-to-hand  encoun 
ters  in  line  of  battle.  It  is  only  where  some  favorite 
"chum"  regiment  is  being  destroyed,  before  their  eyes, 
that  soldiers  become  impatient  of  restraint  and  ask  to  be 
allowed  to  share  the  danger,  for  the  purpose  of  saving 
their  comrades.  The  soldiers  of  the  late  war  will  bear 
me  out  in  this  —  that  it  requires  more  nerve  and  real 
courage  to  stand  inactive  under  fire,  without  flinching, 
than  to  leap  into  the  deadly  breach  under  the  inspiration 
of  a  headlong  charge. 

Valuable  aid  has  been  rendered  the  author  by  comrades 
Morrison,  Stevens,  Baird,  Kennedy,  Armour,  Lusk,  and 
others,  for  which  he  returns  his  sincere  thanks. 

For  t  the  narrative  of  events  the  writer  has  depended 
mainly  on  his  diary  and  letters,  written  on  the  field,  all 
of  which  were  carefully  preserved  by  his  family  and 
returned  to  him  at  the  close  of  the  war.  The  task  of 
preparing  the  manuscript,  and  of  seeing  the  work  through 
the  press,  has  been  purely  a  labor  of  love,  and  the  writer 
will  feel  amply  repaid  if  his  comrades  are  pleased  with 
his  effort.  ^  ™ 

ALBANY,  N.  Y.,  May  ist,  1886. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 
LIST  OF  ENGAGEMENTS xiii 

THE  MAPS  AND  ENGRAVINGS, xiv 

AUTHORITIES  CONSULTED,  xv 

CHAPTER  I. 
FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  CAMP  WEED,         .        ...        . ,      .        .        .  i 

CHAPTER  II. 
THE  BULL  RUN  CAMPAIGN,  17 

CHAPTER  III. 
THE  BULL  RUN  CAMPAIGN  (concluded), 33 

CHAPTER  IV. 
AFTER  BULL  RUN. — THE  MUTINY,          .......          50 

CHAPTER  V. 
FROM  CAMP  CAUSTEN  TO  ANNAPOLIS,      .  68 

CHAPTER  VI. 

FROM  ANNAPOLIS  TO  ST.  HELENA  ISLAND, 89 

CHAPTER  VII. 
ST.  HELENA  ISLAND. — PORT  ROYAL  FERRY,  .        .        .        .        .         104 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
CAMP  LIFE  AT  BEAUFORT, 115 

CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  JAMES  ISLAND  CAMPAIGN, 134 

CHAPTER  X. 
THE  JAMES  ISLAND  CAMPAIGN  (concluded).— THE  BATTLE  AT  SECES- 

SIONVILLE, 149 

CHAPTER  XI. 
FROM  JAMES  ISLAND  TO  NEWPORT  NEWS, 169 

CHAPTER  XII. 
POPE'S  CAMPAIGN. — THE  RAPPAHANNOCK  MARCH,          .        .        .        .        176 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
POPE'S  CAMPAIGN  (continued). — BATTLE  OF  SECOND  BULL  RUN,  .         192 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
POPE'S  CAMPAIGN  (concluded). — BATTLE  OF  CHANTILLY,        .        .        .        211 

CHAPTER  XV. 
THE    MARYLAND    CAMPAIGN.  — BATTLES    OF    SOUTH    MOUNTAIN  AND 

ANTIETAM, 

xi 


xii  CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
AFTER  ANTIETAM. — To  FREDERICKSBURGH,  246 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURGH,  ....  .  257 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
FROM  FREDERICKSBURGH  TO  KENTUCKY,        ...  •  .        272 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
THE  VICKSBURG  CAMPAIGN,  ..'...  294 

CHAPTER  XX. 
THE  JACKSON  CAMPAIGN,  .....'  •  3°6 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
FROM  MISSISSIPPI  TO  EAST  TENNESSEE,  •  324 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN. — BATTLES  OF  BLUE  SPRINGS  AND 

CAMPBELL'S  STATION,       .        . 339 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN  (continued).— SIEGE  OF  KNOXVILLE 

TO  NOVEMBER  28TH,        . "  302 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN  (continued). — SIEGE  OF  KNOXVILLE 

(concluded).— THE  ASSAULT  AND  REPULSE  AT  FORT  SANDERS,        .        384 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN  (continued).—  AFTER  THE  SIEGE. — To 

STRAWBERRY  PLAINS,       •        •        •        •        •        •        4°4 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
CLOSE  OF  THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN.— JOURNEY  TO  ANNAPOLIS,  420 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  WILDERNESS, 438 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA.— CLOSE  OF  THREE  YEARS'  SERVICE,  AND  RETURN  OF 

THE  REGIMENT  TO  NEW  YORK,   ...        .        .        .        •-        •.       •        457 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
THE  LAST  YEAR  OF  THE  WAR.— SIEGE  OF  PETERSBURG.— CONCLUSION,  474 

ROSTER  OF  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS, 492 

REGIMENTAL  STATISTICS,       *.        .        .        •         .'.'..                 •  499 

GENERAL  STATISTICS, 5°° 

INDEX,                             .     ' •        •  5°3 


LIST  OF  ENGAGEMENTS. 


1861—  July  i8th. 

"       2ISt. 

September  nth. 
"  25th. 

1862  —  January  1st. 
May  28th. 
June  3d—  4th. 

"      1  6th. 
August  2ist. 


September  1st. 
"          I4th. 
i;th. 

December  13-141}!. 
1863—  July  4th. 

June  lyth-July  4th. 
July  ic-iyth. 
October  loth. 
November  i6th. 

i;-Dec.  5 
"         29th. 
1864  —  January  2ist. 

22nd. 
May  6-  yth. 


October  27th. 
1865  —  March  25th. 
April  2nd. 


Blackburn's  Ford, 
Bull  Run, 
Lewinsville, 


Virginia. 


South  Carolina. 


Port  Royal  Ferry, 

Pocataligo  (Company  E), 

James  Island, 

Secessionville, 

Kelly's  Ford,  Virginia. 

Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  " 

Chantilly, 

South  Mountain,  Maryland. 

Antietam,  " 

Fredericksburgh,  Virginia. 

Green  River  Bridge  (detachment),  Kentucky. 

Vicksburg,  Mississippi. 

Jackson, 

Blue  Springs,  Tennessee. 

Campbell's  Station,  " 

Siege  of  Knoxville, 

Defence  of  Fort  Sanders, 

Strawberry  Plains, 

Between  Strawberry  Plains  and  Knoxville,     " 

Wilderness,  Virginia. 

Spottsylvania, 

Hatcher's  Run, 

Fort  Stedman, 

Final  assault  on  Petersburg, 


THE  MAPS  AND  ENGRAVINGS. 


The  maps  and  engravings  have  been  prepared  expressly  for  the  work,  and  the 
author  desires  here  to  acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to  Major-General  John  G. 
Parke,  Chief-of-Engineers,  U.  S.  A.,  for  copies  of  official  maps.  From  these, 
mainly,  the  maps  have  been  compiled. 

The  fields  of  Secessionville  and  Spottsylvania  were  drawn  from  memory,  and 
distances  are  only  approximately  correct.  The  battle  scenes  of  Bull  Run,  the 
assault  and  defence  of  Fort  Sanders,  and  the  charge  at  Spottsylvania,  were  also 
drawn  from  memory  sketches,  while  the  other  illustrations  were  copied  from 
papers  published  during  the  war. 

MAPS. 

1>AGE. 

No.  i.  Virginia  Campaigns  of  1861,  etc., 9 

2.  Field  of  Bull  Run, 28 

3.  Port  Royal,  S.  C 93 

4.  James  Island  and  surroundings, 135 

5.  Field  of  Secessionville, 15 l 

6.  Virginia  campaigns  of  1862-3, 183 

7.  Field  of  Second  Bull  Run, 195 

8.  Field  of  Chantilly, 213 

9.  Maryland  campaign, 228 

10.  Field  of  South  Mountain, 231 

1 1 .  Field  of  Antietam, 239 

1 2.  Field  of  Fredericksburgh 259 

1 3.  Kentucky  campaigns  and  marches, 282 

14.  Vicksburg  and  Jackson  campaigns, 298 

15.  East  Tennessee  campaign 332 

1 6.  Siege  of  Knoxville 3°6 

1 7.  Plan  of  attack  on  Fort  Sanders 3^8 

1 8.  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania  campaign 445 

1 9.  Plan  of  Charge  at  Spottsylvania, 46° 

20.  Siege  of  Petersburg 477 

ENGRAVINGS. 

Fort  Sanders,  Assault  and  Defence Frontispiece. 

Bull  Run,  Death  of  Colonel  James  Cameron 39 

Highlanders  at  Tower  Battery 1 56 

"  Want  to  go  in  for  the  Union." 288 

Foraging, , •  •  • 3 l  ° 

Charge  of  the  Highlanders  at  Spottsylvania 463 


AUTHORITIES  CONSULTED. 

War  of  the  Rebellion  (official  records) U.  S.  Govt. 

Rebellion  Record  (Moore's) c.  P.  Putnam,  New  York. 

Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Confederate  Government  (Jefferson  Davis), 

D.  Appleton  6"  Co.,  New  York. 
Military  History  of  U.  S.  Grant  (Adam  Badeau),  D.  Appleton  &>  Co.,  New  York. 

Personal  Memoirs  of  U.  S.  Grant Chas.  L.  Webster  &  Co.,  New  York. 

Memoirs  of  General  W.T.  Sherman  (by  himself),  D.  Appleton  &°  Co.,  New  York. 

The  Annual  Cyclopaedia   1861-1865 D.  Appleton  &•  Co.,  New  York. 

Burnside  and  the  Ninth  Army  Corps  (A.  Woodbury), 

S.  S.  Rider  6-  Co.,  Prov.,  R.  I. 
History  of  the  Twenty-First  Mass.  Regiment  (C.  F.  Walcott), 

Houghton,  Mifflin  o°  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 
History  of  the  Thirty-Sixth  Mass,  (by  a  Committee  of  the  Regiment.)..  .Boston. 

Campaigns  of  the  Civil  War Chas.  Scribner's  Sons,  New  York. 

The  Scotsman  and  Caledonian  Advertiser tfew  York. 

Report  of  Adjutant-General  N.  V.  for  1868 State  Govt 

Recollections  of  the  East  Tennessee  Campaign Will.  H.  Brearley. 

Century  Magazine,  (War  Articles) Century  Co.,  New  York. 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS, 

NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FROM  NEW  YORK  TO  CAMP  WEED. 

THE  HIGHLANDERS  at  Outbreak  of  Rebellion.  — Services  Tendered.— Enlistment 
of  Recruits. — The  Awkward  Squad. — Leaving  New  York. — Trip  to  Washing 
ton. — Georgetown  College. — A  Night  Alarm. — First  Turn  of  Picket  Duty. — 
Colonel  Cameron. — Our  First  Camp  (Lochiel). — Over  the  Border. — "The 
Campbells  are  Coming." — The  Thirteenth  (Rochester),  N.  Y.  Vols. — Camp 
Weed. — Colonel  Sherman's  Brigade. — Ready  for  the  War  Path. 

T  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  in  1861,  the  Seventy- 
Ninth  Highlanders,  head-quarters  in  New  York 
city,  consisted  of  about  three  hundred  men,  divided  into 
six  companies,  and  attached  to  General  Eweii's  brig 
ade  of  the  First  Division  N.  Y.  S.  M.  The  regiment 
was  composed  principally  of  men  of  Scottish  birth,  but 
contained  a  good  sprinkling  of  other  nationalities.  When 
on  parade  the  Highland  uniform,  or  kilts,  was  worn, 
while  the  undress,  or  fatigue,  uniform  consisted  of  caps, 
blue  jackets  and  Cameron  tartan  trousers. 

Immediately  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter  the  services 
of  the  regiment  were  tendered  to  the  government  and  re 
cruiting  begun  in  order  to  bring  the  ranks  up  to  a  war 
standard.  Many  of  the  original  members,  by  reason  of 
their  age,  were  debarred  from  enlisting  in  the  U.  S.  ser 
vice,  but  in  a  short  time  a  sufficient  number  of  recruits, 
without  regard  to  nationality,  had  been  obtained  to  fill 


2  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDEKS.  May, 

ten  companies  to  the  maximum.  So  anxious  were  many 
of  the  boys  to  enlist — and  fearing  they  would  not  be  ac 
cepted  if  under  age— that  they  did  not  hesitate  to  hold  up 
their  hands  and  swear  to  being  "twenty-one  ;"  their  fears 
proved  groundless,  however,  for  boys  of  eighteen,  if  in 
good  physical  condition,  were  readily  accepted. 

So  anxious,  too,  were  the  various  militia  organizations 
to  be  accepted  and  sent  to  the  defense  of  Washington, 
that  the  authorities  were  often  at  a  loss  to  decide  which 
first  to  order  on,  and  it  soon  became  a  matter  of  intricate 
wire-pulling  as  to  which  regiments  should  have  the 
preference. 

Although  the  services  of  the  Highlanders  were  among 
the  first  tendered  under  the  call  for  75,000  men  for  three 
months  service,  and  authority  had  been  given  to  prepare 
at  once  for  the  field,  the  membership  was  so  small  that 
stronger  regiments  were  first  sent  out.  We  all  remem 
ber  the  exciting  days  of  April— the  17th,  when  the  Sixth 
Massachusetts  passed  through  the  city  ;  the  19th,  when 
the  Fifth  and  Eighth  from  the  same  State,  and  our  own 
Seventh  marched  down  Broadway  ;  the  21st,  when  the 
Twelfth  Regiment  left,  and  the  23d  of  the  month,  which 
saw  the  Eighth  and  Thirteenth  off.  The  Sixty-Ninth 
left  on  the  22d  and  the  Twenty-Fifth  Eegiment  from  Al 
bany  passed  through  on  the  29th.  All  this  we  witnessed 
and  wished  that  our  own  ranks  had  been  full  enough,  or 
that  our  officers  possessed  sufficient  influence  to  move  the 
Highlanders.  Before  the  Government  was  ready  to  order 
us  forward,  the  first  call  for  troops  had  been  more  than 
filled,  and  when  on  the  13th  of  May  the  formal  accept 
ance  was  made,  it  was  under  the  second  call  of  the  Presi 
dent,  of  May  3d,  for  500,000  men  to  serve  for  a  period  of 
three  years  unless  sooner  discharged.  It  is  needless  to 
say  that  the  men  were  as  willing  to  enlist  for  that  time 
as  for  three  months.  Our  term  of  enlistment  was  com 
puted  and  pay  began  from  this  date.  Elections  had  been 


i86i.  LEFT  !    LEFT  !  3 

held  in  each  company,  the  various  grades  of  officers  filled, 
and  we  awaited  impatiently  the  further  action  of  the 
Government  to  muster  us  in  and  call  us  to  the  field. 

Drilling,  meanwhile,  was  vigorously  prosecuted,  and 
many  will  remember  the  old  Mexican  soldier  who  acted 
as  our  drill  master  and  whose  sing-song  "Left !  Left ! 
Now  you  have  it,  d — n  you,  keep  it,  Left !  Left !"  amused 
us  so  much  while  under  his  manipulation.  It  bothered 
many  to  remember,  when  facing  to  the  right  in  four 
ranks,  whether  number  one  or  number  two  should  take 
the  "side  step  to  the  right,"  but  after  a  while  the  lesson 
was  learned  well  enough  for  all  practical  purposes.  It 
will  also  be  recalled  how  strange  most  of  us  felt  when 
dressed  for  the  first  time  in  our  new  uniforms,  the  pants 
were  too  long — or  too  short,  the  coat  or  jacket  collars  so 
high  and  stiff  that  we  could  hardly  turn  our  heads  with 
out  scratching  our  necks  or  chins,  while  the  tips  of  our 
fingers  could  scarcely  be  seen,  so  generous  was  the  length 
of  sleeve. 

On  the  27th,  28th  and  29th,  the  ceremony  of  muster-in 
was  performed  with  the  following  result : 
Lieut.  Colonel,  Samuel  M.  Elliott,  Commanding,  1 

Major,  David  McClellan,  1 

Adjutant,  David  Ireland,  1 

Quartermaster,  Patrick  Home,  1 

Commissary,  Harry  Pearson,  1 

Surgeon,  James  Norval,  1 

Chaplain,  Geo.  S.  Doughty,  1 

Band-Master,  Wm.  Robertson,  and  17  musicians,  -  18 
Color  Bearer,  1 

Eight  and  left  general  guides,  2 

Co.  A.,  Captain,  Wm.  Maiisoii ;  Second  Lieut.,  John 

A.  McPherson,   and  73  men,  75 

Co.  B.,  Captain,  Jas.  A.  Farrish  ;  First  Lieut.,  John 
Whyte  ;  Second  Lieut.,  D.  G.  Falconer,  and 
77  men,  -  -  80 


4  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

Co.  C.,  Captain,  Thomas  Barclay  ;  First  Lieut.,  Ken 
neth  Mathison  ;  Second  Lieut.,  W.  A.  L. 
Ostrander,  and  83  men,  86 

Co.  D.,  Captain,  David  Brown;  First  Lieut.,  John 
More;  Second  Lieut.,  John  A.  Falconer, 
and  83  men,  86 

Co.  E.,  Captain,  David  Morrison  ;  First  Lieut.,  Jas. 
B.  Ayres  ;  Second  Lieut.,  James  B.  Sinclair, 
and  Si  men,  87 

Co.  F.,  Captain,  James  Christie  ;  First  Lieut.,  Eobt. 

McNie,  and  82  men,  84 

Co.  G.,  Captain,  Joseph  Laing ;  First  Lieut.,  James 
L.  Dick;  Second  Lieut.,  Walter  B.  Ives, 
and  66  men,  69 

Co.  H.,  Captain,  James  E.  Coulter;  First  Lieut., 
Eobert  Campbell ;  Second  Lieut.,  Wm.  B. 
Drake,  and  95  men,  /  .  .  98 

Co.  L,  Captain,  Eobert  T.  Shillinglaw  ;  First  Lieut., 
Wm.  St.  George  Elliot ;  Second  Lieut.,  Geo. 
W.  Pier,  and  87  men,  90 

Co.  K.,  Captain,  Henry  A.  Ellis  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Sam 
uel  E.  Elliot  and  110  men,  -  -  112 

Making  a  grand  total  of  895 

> 

Quarters  were  now  assigned  the  regiment  at  Palace 
Gardens,  on  Fourteenth  street  near  Sixth  avenue,  arms 
and  accoutrements  were  issued,  and  the  men  ordered  to 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march  on  twenty-four 
hours  notice.  Guard  was  mounted  and  the  greenhorns 
looked  with  envy  upon  the  few  old  "Breetish"  soldiers 
whose  handling  of  their  muskets,  or  steady  tramp  while 
"  on  post "  proclaimed  their  familiarity  with  such  duties. 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  we  were  ordered  to  hold 
ourselves  in  readiness  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice. 


i86i.  LOADED    WITH    GOOD    THINGS.  5 

Visitors  filled  our  quarters  from  early  morning  till  night 
fall  and  all  was  bustle  and  excitement. 

On  the  30th  the  regiment  paraded  and  marched  to  the 
residence  of  General  Ewen,  whose  wife  presented  us  with 
a  beautiful  silk  National  flag,  the  presentation  address 
being  made  by  Prosper  M.  Wetmore,  Esq.,  president  of 
the  Union  Eelief  Committee,  and  responded  to  on  behalf 
of  the  regiment  by  Lieut.  Colonel  Elliot. 

On  June  1st  we  were  ordered  to  appear  at  head-quar 
ters  on  the  following  day,  Sunday,  armed  and  equipped, 
and  with  twenty-four  hours  cooked  rations  in  our  haver 
sacks,  ready  to  leave  for  Washington.  At  an  early  hour 
on  Sunday  morning  the  men,  accompanied  by  relatives 
and  friends,  who  came  loaded  with  good  things  for  our 
delectation,  began  to  assemble. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  line  was  formed  for 
inspection  and  dress-parade,  under  the  direction  of  Gen 
eral  Ewen.  All  the  officers  and  many  of  the  men  wore 
the  kilts  while  the  rest  of  the  men  were  dressed  in  hand 
some  State  jackets  with  red  facings,  blue  fatigue  caps 
and  Cameron  tartan  pants,  these,  with  the  kilted  officers 
and  men,  made  our  appearance  quite  picturesque.  After 
inspection  and  dress-parade  the  regiment  was  turned  over 
to  the  Lieutenant-Colonel,  wheeled  into  column  by  pla 
toons,  and,  headed  by  Eobertson's  band,  our  journey  to 
the  seat  of  war  began.  Our  route  led  us  past  the  resi 
dence  of  Eoderick  W.  Cameron,  Esq.,  who  had  been  an 
officer  in  the  regiment,  but  whose  allegiance  to  the  Brit 
ish  Sovereign  prevented  his  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
war.  His  sympathies  were  with  us,  however,  and  his 
wife  took  the  opportunity  of  presenting  us  with  a  hand 
some  National  flag,  after  which  our  march  was  resumed. 

The  day  was  exceedingly  warm,  and  we  felt  very  un 
comfortable  under  the  strange  loads  of  well  filled  knap 
sacks  strapped  on  shoulders  unused  to  such  burdens,  but 
the  excitement  drove  all  tired  feelings  from  our  minds ; 


6  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

we  marched  down  Broadway  and  to  the  Courtlandt  street 
ferry  with  a  firm  step  and  a  steady  front. 

Arriving  at  the  railroad  station  in  Jersey  City,  we  found 
the  train  in  waiting,  and  after  some  delay,  owing  to  the 
great  crowd  of  people  who  had  collected,  we  were  put  on 
board  the  cars.  The  train  was  delayed  in  the  station  for 
several  hours,  during  which  time  Jersey's  fair  daughters 
laid  us  under  great  obligations  for  the  generous  manner 
in  which  they  ministered  to  our  comfort.  At  eleven 
o'clock,  amid  the  cheers  and  "God  bless  you's"  of  the 
assembled  multitude,  the  train  moved  out.  Those  who 
had  assembled  at  Newark  early  in  the  evening,  despair 
ing  of  our  appearance  that  night  had  gone  home,  and 
only  a  few  personal  friends  remained  when,  at  midnight, 
that  city  was  reached. 

At  New  Brunswick  all  was  quiet,  and  we  gradually  set 
tled  down  to  catch  a  few  minutes  sleep  before  changing 
cars  at  Camden.  While  crossing  the  river  there,  at  seven 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  ten  rounds  of  buck  and 
ball  cartridges  were  served  out  to  each  man,  and  ten  of 
each  company  ordered  to  load  their  muskets — not  that 
we  expected  any  trouble  in  the  "  City  of  Brotherly  Love," 
but  we  were  fast  approaching  the  interesting  city  of  Bal 
timore,  and  did  not  purpose  being  caught  napping  as  was 
the  Sixth  Massachusetts,  who  had  been  assaulted  while 
passing  through  on  the  19th  of  April  and  some  killed,  while 
many  more  were  wounded.  On  landing  in  Philadelphia 
we  found  the  patriotism  of  that  people  at  fever  heat ;  a  sub 
stantial  breakfast  awaited  us,  after  eating  which,  the  ladies 
distributed  bouquets  to  all,  while  little  girls  went  about 
presenting  pocket  pin-cushions,  needle-cases  and  the  like. 
Here,  also,  many  of  the  regiment  had  personal  friends 
who  were  ready  to  bid  them  a  hearty  welcome  and  an 
affectionate  adieu,  the  customary  "wee  drop"  not  being 
forgotten.  Those  of  our  number  dressed  in  the  kilts  re 
ceived  an  extra  share  of  attention.  It  was  eleven  o'clock 


1 86 1.  THE    PLUG    UGLIES.  7 

before  our  kind  friends  in  Philadelphia  were  left  behind. 
We  did  not  lack  for  amusement  during  the  journey  ;  few 
of  us  thought  there  would  be  any  serious  fighting  with 
the  rebels,  and  the  prevailing  sentiment  respecting  the 
negro  question  was  pretty  clearly  expressed  in  the  re 
frain  of  one  of  the  songs  sung  during  our  trip  : 

"  Let  the  North  and  South  hold  on  a  moment, 
And  let  the  poor  darkey  alone." 

On  approaching  Baltimore,  guards  were  placed  on  each 
platform  of  the  cars,  and  the  men  ordered  to  hold  them 
selves  ready  for  any  emergency.  On  nearing  the  station 
a  large  crowd  was  observed,  and  as  the  train  stopped,  the 
"  Plug-Uglies "  began  shouting  and  cheering  for  "Jeff 
Da  vis  "and  "Secession,"  while  occasionally  a  faint  re 
sponse  would  be  made  for  cheers  for  the  ' '  Highlanders  " 
and  the  "Union.''  It  looked  as  though  there  might  be 
trouble,  and  as  we  left  the  cars  to  form  line  for  the  march 
to  the  Washington  station,  the  men  grasped  their  mus 
kets  more  firmly  and  were  on  the  alert  for  the  first  overt 
act  on  the  part  of  the  crowd.  While  line  was  being 
formed  a  violent  thunder  shower  passed  over  us,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  those  who  were  in  line  received  a  thorough 
drenching ;  the  rain  scattered  the  crowd,  however,  and 
when  it  ceased  we  began  our  march.  The  crowd  soon 
collected  again,  following  us  all  the  way,  shouting,  hoot 
ing  and  yelling.  We  wished  that  the  "thugs"  had 
offered  just  a  little  violence,  in  order  that  we  might  have 
repaid,  with  interest,  the  assault  on  the  Massachusetts 
regiment,  but  no  overt  act  was  committed,  and  when  the 
Washington  station  was  reached,  we  found  the  crowd  as 
sembled  there  to  be  of  a  very  different  character,  for 
while  they  cheered  loudly  and  frequently,  it  was  for  the 
"Union,"  "Stars  and  Stripes"  and  the  "Highlanders." 
On  entering  the  cars  we  took  off  our  wet  outer  clothing 
and  settled  down  for  a  nap.  The  train  moved  out  a  little 
before  midnight  and  when  most  of  us  awoke  again  it  was 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

in  Washington,  where  we  arrived  at  two  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  4th. 

We  had  at  last  reached  that  far-famed  city,  about  the 
safety  of  which  the  nation  was  at  that  time,  and  often 
thereafter,  so  much  concerned.  It  was  too  dark,  how 
ever,  and  the  men  too  sleepy,  for  much  notice  to  be  taken 
of  the  surroundings.  Line  was  speedily  formed  and  the 
march  begun  for  Georgetown,  where  quarters  had  been 
assigned  us  in  the  college  buildings  situated  on  the 
Heights.  The  march,  although  a  short  one,  was  very 
fatiguing  to  the  men,  who  for  the  past  forty-eight  hours 
had  had  little  or  no  sleep,  and  many  dropped  out  of  the 
ranks  and  sat  down  on  door-steps  and  curb-stones  to  rest ; 
some  even  fell  asleep  there  and  did  not  reach  the  quarters 
till  long  after  daylight. 

On  arriving  at  the  college,  rooms  were  assigned  to  the 
various  companies,  and  the  men  were  soon  testing  the 
quality  of  the  bare  floors,  in  their  endeavors  to  get  a  little 
sleep  before  breakfast  time.  Most  of  us  were  astir  shortly 
after  daylight,  inspecting  our  quarters  and  the  surround 
ings  ;  we  found  that  the  college  was  an  institution  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  up  to 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  had  been  attended  princi 
pally  by  the  sons  of  wealthy  Southerners,  but  the  school 
master's  occupation  was  gone  now,  and  while  we  "were 
at  college  "  a  few  only  of  the  professors  remained.  The 
Sixty-ninth  Regiment  had  occupied  the  buildings  before 
us  and  until  they  were  sent  over  to  Arlington  Heights. 
From  the  rear  windows  we  could  see  the  Potomac,  and 
Arlington  Heights,  beyond,  covered  with  the  white  tents 
and  rapidly  growing  forts  and  earthworks. 

Our  first  summons  to  breakfast  "was  announced  by  the 
cooks  calling-out,  "fall  in  for  your  coffee  !"  The  repast 
consisted  of  a  quart  of  black  coffee  and  two  crackers, 
which  at  first  thought  seemed  rather  hard  ("tack"),  and 
some  were  inclined  to  grumble  at  the  coarseness  and 


!86i.  WE    ARE    ATTACKED  !  11 

meagreiiess  of  the  fare ;  the  majority,  however,  ate  the 
crackers  and  drank  the  coffee  without  a  word  of  com 
plaint.  Our  dinner  was  better,  consisting  of  an  old 
fashioned  Irish  stew.  In.  the  afternoon  a  number  of  the 
men  visited  Arlington  Heights.  Fort  Corcoran,  on  which 
the  Sixty-Ninth  were  at  work  was  inspected,  and  al 
though  the  rain  was  falling  at  the  time,  the  men  of  that 
regiment  were  hard  at  work,  stripped  to  their  undershirts. 
Our  supper  was  a  repetition  of  the  breakfast  bill-of-fare, 
and  at  dark  we  gathered  in  groups,  compared  notes  and 
discussed  the  situation  till  bed  time.  Thus  ended  our 
first  day  at  the  seat  of  war. 

The  night  of  the  6th  was  long  remembered  by  all  who 
were  present.  The  men  had  retired  at  the  usual  time— 
nine  o'clock,  and  at  midnight  the  sentries  report  was, 
"All  quiet  on  the  Potomac."  But  suddenly  we  were 
awakened  by  the  discharge  of  musketry,  the  drums  beat 
ing  the  long  roll,  the  bugle  sounding  the  assembly,  and 
the  officers  of  the  guard  shouting  at  the  tops  of  their 
voices  :  "  Fall  in  !  Fall  in  !  We  are  attacked  !"  Every 
man  was  up  in  an  instant  and  seized  the  first  articles  of 
clothing  that  came  to  hand,  putting  them  on,  hap 
hazard,  in  the  dark,  and  grasping  their  muskets,  rushed 
out  to  the  parade  ground.  Some  appeared  with  nothing 
on  but  their  pants,  hatless  and  shoeless  ;  others  clothed, 
but  without  their  arms  ;  some  in  their  drawers  and  under 
shirts,  who  looked  in  the  darkness  like  so  many  moving 
ghosts.  Line  was  formed  after  a  fashion,  but  scarcely  a 
company  was  in  its  proper  place.  What  was  the  cause 
of  all  this  disturbance  ?  No  one  appeared  to  know,  no  one 
w^as  able  to  find  out.  After  remaining  in  line  for  nearly 
an  hour,  part  of  the  regiment  was  sent  out  on  the  picket 
line  between  the  college  buildings  and  the  observatory, 
where  they  fired  a  volley  into  the  darkness — or  at  an  im 
aginary  foe— the  only  result  of  which  was  to  frighten 
those  who  remained  in  line,  and  to  arouse  the  camps  on 


12  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  for  we  could  hear  their 
drums  beating  and  bugles  sounding  as  though  the  whole 
rebel  army  was  upon  them. 

It  was  finally  reported  that  one  of  the  sentrys,  hearing  a 
noise  in  the  bushes,  had  fired  his  piece  and  then  run  back  to 
the  reserve,  they  in  turn  discharged  their  muskets  and  beat 
a  hasty  retreat  to  the  college,  and  so  the  alarm  was  raised. 
As  soon  as  this  was  reported  the  men  were  sent  back  to  their 
quarters,  but  cautioned  not  to  undress,  and  to  keep  their 
muskets  close  at  hand  ;  in  other  words,  to  "lie  on  their 
arms  "  for  the  remainder  of  the  night. 

It  was  not  for  a  long  time  afterwards  that  the  truth 
leaked  out :  a  number  of  onr  officers  had  been  enjoying 
themselves  in  Washington  during  the  evening,  and  when, 
they  returned  to  quarters,  just  after  midnight,  were  in 
good  condition  to  perpetrate  a  serious  joke  without  think 
ing  much  about  the  consequences.  They  thought  it 
would  be  a  fine  thing  to  raise  an  alarm  "  just  to  see  how 
quick  the  men  could  turn  out."  They  did  so — with  the 
result  as  above  mentioned.  That  no  serious  accidents 
followed  such  outrageous  conduct  "was  not  their  fault, 
and  doubtless  those  who  instigated  the  matter  were  after 
wards  heartily  ashamed  of  their  conduct. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  the  observatory  which  was 
situated  about  a  third  of  a  mile  from  the  college  build 
ings  ;  the  road  there  led  through  the  woods,  and  a  line  of 
pickets  was  maintained,  more  for  the  purpose  of  familiar 
izing  the  men  with  such  duty  than  because  of  any  need, 
for  there  was  no  armed  enemy  in  the  neighborhood.  This 
line  was  considered  the  place  of  honor,  and  in  the  dark 
ness  no  doubt  many  a  brave  man  quaked  and  trembled 
during  his  first  few  turns  of  duty.  In  a  letter  written 
by  one  of  our  men  at  the  time,  he  said  "on  this  day  I 
performed  my  first  turn  of  picket  duty,  and  when  at  dark 
I  received  the  mysterious  countersign,  I  really  felt  as 
though  the  safety  of  the  nation  depended  upon  the  faith- 


,86 1.  COLONEL  CAMERON.  13 

ful  performance  of  my  duty.  I  am  sure  that  not  even 
the  rustling  of  a  leaf,  the  chirp  of  a  cricket,  or  the  monot 
onous  song  of  a  katydid  escaped  my  attention  for  the 
first  two  hours  I  was  on  post." 

On  the  9th  a  grand  parade  of  the  troops  camped  in  the 
vicinity  was  ordered,  and  the  line  reviewed  by  President 
Lincoln,  General  Scott  and  other  officials,  from  a  stand  on 
Pennsylvania  avenue.  This  was  the  first  appearance  of  the 
regiment  in  the  streets  of  Washington,  and  the  kilts  at 
tracted  a  good  deal  of  attention. 

Shortly  after  this  our  officers  while  attending,  in  uni 
form,  a  reception  given  by  the  wife  of  the  Secretary  of 
State,  met  for  the  first  time  Mr.  James  Cameron,  the 
brother  of  the  Secretary  of  War.  As  the  Colonel's  posi 
tion  in  the  regiment  was  vacant,  it  was  suggested  by  the 
Secretary  that,  if  offered  the  position,  his  brother  would 
accept ;  a  meeting  of  the  officers  was  soon  held  and  the 
gentleman  elected  ;  he  accepted,  and  on  the  21st  pre 
sented  himself  at  head-quarters  and  assumed  command. 
On  the  23d  Colonel  Cameron  found  that  his  position  was 
not  one  of  unalloyed  pleasure  ;  on  that  day  the  regiment 
marched  to  the  Washington  arsenal  for  the  purpose,  as 
announced,  of  exchanging  the  old  altered  flint-lock  mus 
kets,  with  which  we  had  left  New  York,  for  rifles,  but  on 
the  uiiew"  arms  being  brought  out  we  found  they  were 
no  better,  nor  different,  from  those  we  had,  and  the  men 
refused  to  take  them.  The  Colonel  was  much  chagrined 
at  our  behavior  and  endeavored,  by  argument,  to  convince 
us  that  we  ought  to  accept  the  exchange.  Finally,  on  his 
promising  to  obtain  for  us  the  first  lot  of  rifles  that  came 
into  Washington,  we  shouldered  those  offered,  and 
marched  back  to  our  quarters. 

During  our  stay  at  the  college  quarters,  most  of  the 
men  visited  the  places  of  interest  in  Washington  and 
vicinity  ;  the  Capitol  was  thoroughly  inspected,  as  were 
also  the  Patent  Office,  Treasury  Building  and  Post  Office. 


14  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

Alexandria,  too,  came  in  for  its  share,  and  the  Marshall 
House,  the  scene  of  Colonel  Ellsworth's  death,  was  visi 
ted,  and  in  common  with  the  host  of  relic  hunters  that 
had  preceded  us,  we  split  off  fragments  of  the  wood-work 
to  send  home  as  souvenirs  of  the  tragic  event.  The  Fire 
Zouaves  were  called  upon,  whom  we  found  at  Fort  Ells 
worth,  and  other  places  of  note  received  our  attention. 

On  the  afternoon  of  July  1st  we  received  orders  to  pre 
pare  for  removal  to  a  camp  ground  on  the  following  day. 
The  Quartermaster  had  already  received  a  supply  of  tents 
and  we  had  been  anticipating  the  order  for  some  time. 
On  the  morning  of  the  2d  we  were  "graduated."  We 
marched  about  a  mile  north  of  the  college  where  ground 
had  been  selected,  and  which  was  named  Camp  Lochiel. 
Colonel  Cameron,  it  was  understood,  claimed  descent 
from  the  old  Scottish  Chieftain,  and  our  first  camp  was 
named  in  honor  of  the  ancient  Highlander. 

It  was  rather  a  difficult  undertaking  for  a  majority  of  us, 
this  pitching  tents — we  could  pitch  ball  better,  and  did  so 
while  waiting  for  some  one  of  the  old  "Breetish"  soldiers 
to  come  and  show  the  greenhorns  how  to  set  up  the  ridge 
pole  and  drive  the  pegs — but  they  were  all  up  before  dark, 
and  when  the  regulation  number  of  eight  men  were 
crowded  into  the  six  by  eight  feet  wall  tents,  there 
was  little  room  to  swing  the  historical  cat  by  the  tail 
or  a  mouse  either.  It  was  wonderful,  though,  how  soon 
we  accommodated  ourselves  to  circumstances.  When 
the  weather  was  pleasant  our  time  was  spent  ' '  out  of 
doors,"  and  when  compelled  to  remain  within,  we  filled 
up  the  time  with  reading,  writing,  story  telling  and  card 
playing. 

On  the  fourth  another  review,  but  on  a  grander  scale, 
was  held  in  the  city,  the  regiment  as  usual  attracting  a 
good  deal  of  attention.  One  of  our  lieutenants,  who 
commanded  a  platoon  on  that  occasion,  had  been  spend 
ing  more  of  his  time  dealing  out  whiskey  than  in  study- 


i86i.  OVER  THE   BORDER.  15 

ing  tactics  ;  a  wagon  occupied  one  side  of  the  narrow 
street  through  which  we  were  marching  during  the  par 
ade,  and  in  order  to  pass  the  obstruction  it  was  necessary 
for  the  platoons  to  oblique  ;  as  the  platoons  ahead  passed 
in  regular  order  the  lieutenant  was  seen  to  bend  his  head 
forward  as  if  trying  to  catch  the  proper  word  of  com 
mand  necessary  for  the  execution  of  the,  to  him,  difficult 
movement ;  this  he  failed  to  hear,  however,  and  just  as 
his  line  was  about  to  become  broken  by  the  obstruction 
he  hurriedly  exclaimed — and  indicating  the  direction 
by  pointing  his  sword — "  Go  to  one  side  till  after  you 
pass  the  wagon!" 

While  at  the  college  we  had  been  drilled  frequently  in 
the  manual  of  arms  by  one  or  two  West  Point  Cadets 
—or  those  just  graduated  from  that  institution.  We 
followed  Scott  in  this,  and  "carried"  our  muskets  accor 
ding  to  the  heavy  infantry  practice  ;  when  engaged  in 
skirmish  drill,  however,  Hardee's  system  was  adopted. 
Both  officers  and  men  generally  seemed  anxious  to  be 
come  proficient  in  their  military  duties,  although  they 
never  attempted  any  of  the  fancy  movements  practiced 
by  some  of  the  other  regiments. 

On  the  7th  the  Highlanders  were  ordered  across  the 
Potomac.  General  McDowell  had  been  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  Union  Army  and  was  now  organizing 
the  regiments  into  brigades  and  divisions.  While  cross 
ing  the  bridge  which  spans  the  Potomac,  the  band  struck 
up  a  very  appropriate  air,  "AH  the  Blue  Bonnets  are 
Over  the  Border."  Our  route  led  us  past  Fort  Corcoran 
and  the  camp  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  N.  Y.,  on  approaching 
which,  the  band  played  "The  Campbells  are  Coming." 
Eobertson  was  always  equal  to  the  occasion  and  enlivened 
our  march  by  appropriate  selections.  The  Sixty-Ninth 
turned  out  and  welcomed  us  to  the  "sacred  soil"  of  old 
Virginia.  We  encamped  about  a  mile  beyond  that  regi 
ment  and  close  to  the  Thirteenth  New  York,  from  Roches- 


16  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

ter,  who  upon  our  arrival  treated  us  to  hot  coffee,  as  the 
best  they  had  to  offer.  Our  wagons  failed  to  put  in  an 
appearance  that  night  and  we  were  obliged  to  bivouac 
on  the  open  ground.  We  made  huge  fires  of  fence  rails, 
one  for  each  company,  and  wrapping  our  blankets  about 
us  lay  down  and  slept  sound  till  morning.  Our  tents  ar 
rived  early  in  the  day,  and  when  they  were  pitched,  Camp 
Weed  was  established.  Why  that  name  was  selected 
does  not  appear  ;  it  may  be,  however,  that  the  surround 
ings  suggested  it,  for  a  most  luxuriant  crop  was  growing 
in  the  field  where  the  tents  were  pitched. 

It  was  about  the  12th  when  the  brigades  and  divisions 
were  formally  organized  and  we  found  ourselves  with 
the  Second  Wisconsin,  Thirteenth  and  Sixty-Ninth  New 
York  in  the  Third  •  brigade  of  the  First  division,  Colonel 
W.  T.  Sherman  being  our  Brigade  Commander,  while 
Brigadier  General  Daniel  Tyler  of  Connecticut,  was  in 
command  of  the  division.  Sherman  drilled  us  three 
times  a  week  in  brigade  movements,  that  is,  we  had 
three  drills  the  first  week  and  would  no  doubt  have  had 
as  many  more  the  week  following,  had  not  the  army 
started  out  on  the  war  path. 


1 86 1.  BEGIN   ACTIVE   OPERATIONS.  17 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  BULL  RUN   CAMPAIGN. 

"ON  to  Richmond!"— What  We  Saw  at  Vienna.— Incidents  of  the  March.— 
Bees  and  Honey. — "Take  off  that  Petticoat." — Laxity  of  Discipline. — Skir 
mish  at  Blackburn's  Ford. — "General  If"  Drawing  the  Enemy's  Fire. — 
Ducking;  "  Well,  Boys,  you  may  Dodge  the  Big  Ones." — The  Field  Hospital 
— Alarm  on  the  Picket  Line. — Sunday  Morning. — Behind  Bull  Run. — Opening 
of  the  Battle. 

TT  is  well  known  that  General  Scott,  the  General-in- 
-*-  Chief  of  the  army,  was  opposed  to  an  aggressive  cam 
paign  in  Virginia,  with  three  months'  troops  whose  term 
of  service  had  nearly  expired.  He  wished  to  occupy  the 
Summer  in  organizing  an  army  of  three  years'  men,  now 
rapidly  coming  forward,  and  then  begin  active  operations 
in  the  Fall.  Butler's  repulse  at  Great  Bethel,  and 
Schenck's  at  Vienna,  however,  although  unimportant  in 
themselves,  had  inflamed  the  people  of  the  North  and 
the  newspapers  voiced  the  popular  sentiment,  when  with 
flaming  head-lines  they  raised  the  cry:  "Onto  Rich 
mond  !"  Late  in  June  the  Administration  bowed  to  the 
popular  will ;  it  was  decided  to  begin  active  operations 
about  the  9th  of  July  and  preparations  were  made  ac 
cordingly. 

It  was  not,  however,  till  the  16th  that  the  "Army  of 
North-Eastern  Virginia  "  received  its  final  orders  to  start. 
McDowell's  "General  Order  No.  17,"  of  that  date,  pre 
scribed  the  route  to  be  followed  anrt  general  rules  to  be 
observed  by  the  several  divisions  :  "  The  brigades  of  the 
First  division  (Tyler's),  will  leave  their  camps  in  light 
marching  order  and  go  as  far  as  Vienna,  the  Fourth  brig- 


18  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

ade  (Richardson's),  taking  the  road  across  the  Chain 
Bridge  and  by  way  of  Langley's,  Louisville  and  Old  Court 
House  ;  the  others  by  the  Georgetown  turnpike  and  Lees- 
burg  stone  roads.  On  the  morning  of  the  17th 

Brigadier  General  Tyler  will  direct  his  march  so 
as  to  intercept  the  enemy's  communications  between  Fair 
fax  Court  House  and  Centreville,  moving  to  the  right  or 
left  of  Germantown,  as  he  may  find  most  practicable. 

The  enemy  is  represented  to  be  in  force  at  Cen 
treville,  Germantown,  Fairfax  Court  House,  and  Fairfax 
station,  and  at  intermediate  places.  He  has 

been  obstructing,  as  far  as  possible,  the  roads  *  *  * 
and  is  believed  on  several  of  these  to  have  thrown  up 
breast- works  and  planted  cannon.  *  *  The  three 

following  things  will  not  be  pardonable  in  any  com 
mander  :  1st.  To  come  upon  a  battery  or  breast-work 
without  a  knowledge  of  its  position.  2d.  To  be  surprised. 
3d.  To  fall  back." 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  in  "  light  marching 
order "  the  march  began ;  our  knapsacks  containing 
our  uniform  jackets  and  tartan  pants,  as  well  as  all  other 
extras,  having  been  packed  and  left  at  camp  in  charge  of 
the  ' '  Invalid  Corps. "  If  any  of  our  men  wore  other  than 
the  regulation  dark  blue  blouses  and  light  blue  pants  dur 
ing  the  campaign,  it  was  the  exception,  and  they  were 
few.  Orders  previously  issued  had  explained  what  ' '  light 
marching  order  "  meant,  and  all  that  we  carried  besides 
our  arms  and  acoutrements,  were  our  blankets,  with  a  sin 
gle  change  of  underclothing  rolled  therein,  the  ends  tied 
and  slung  over  or  shoulders.  Vienna  was  reached,  without 
anything  worthy  of  note  occurring,  just  before  dark,  and 
here  we  first  witnessed  any  destruction  caused  by  the 
enemy.  On  June  lf>th  General  Scheiick  with  the  First 
Ohio,  while  approaching  the  station  on  a  train  of  cars, 
and  not  suspecting  any  danger,  was  fired  into  by  the 
enemy  from  a  concealed  battery,  and  a  dozen  of  his  com- 


1 86 1.  A   LOT   OF  BEE   HIVES.  19 

mand  killed  and  wounded.  His  men.  were  obliged  to  beat 
a  hasty  retreat,  after  which  the  rebels  burned  the  cars. 
The  remains  lay  scattered  about  the  station  and  were 
very  suggestive.  Our  afternoon's  march  had  been  a  com 
paratively  easy  one.  ' '  Eests  "  had  been  frequent,  ow 
ing  to  the  obstructions  placed  in  the  roads  by  the  re 
treating  enemy,  and  which  our  pioneer  corps  were  obliged 
to  remove.  We  bivouacked  on  the  high  ground  just 
west  of  the  station,  and  those  of  as  fortunate  enough  not 
to  be  summoned  for  guard  or  picket  duty  wrapped  our 
blankets  about  us  and  were  soon  asleep. 

At  daylight  of  the  17th  the  march  was  resumed.  As 
Germaiitowii  was  approached  about  110011,  an  earth-work 
on  a  hill  directly  in  our  front  was  observed.  A  section  of 
artillery  was  ordered  to  the  front  and  a  few  shells  fired 
into  it  without,  however,  eliciting  a  response  ;  the  skir 
mish  line  advanced,  found  the  works  deserted,  and  when 
the  flag  of  the  leading  regiment  was  placed  on  the  para 
pet  the  men  cheered  as  though  a  great  victory  had  been 
obtained.  While  resting  for  a  few  minutes  in  the  village 
some  of  the  Highlanders  discovered  a  lot  of  bee-hives  ;  to 
overturn  these  was  the  work  of  but  a  moment,  and  then 
began  the  scramble  for  the  honey.  But  : 

"  As  Bees  bizz  out  wi'  angry  fyke, 

When  plundering  herds  assail  their  byke," 

the  air  was  soon  ''blue1'  with  bees,  curses  and  impre 
cations  ;  men  ran  hither  and  thither  trying  to  shake  off 
their  tormentors,  while  mounted  officers  put  spurs  to 
their  horses  and  beat  a  hasty  retreat.  Just  at  this 
moment  Colonel  Cameron  rode  up  to  see  what  caused 
the  excitement,  and  was  heard  to  remark  afterwards  that 
he,  "  at  least,  got  more  stings  than  honey."  Whether 
our  brigade  commander  also  got  a  "bee  in  his  bonnet" 
at  the  same  time  did  not  appear,  but  he  certainly  had  his 
opinion  concerning  the  "  New  York  rowdies,"  and  it  was 
not  a  flattering  one  either. 


20  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

Our  advance  was  made  with  extreme  caution,  rumors 
of  masked  batteries,  such  as  General  Schenck  had  run 
into  at  Vienna,  were  rife  among  the  men  ;  to  our  imagi 
nation  every  strip  of  woods  contained  a  body  of  "  secesh  " 
infantry,  and  every  hillock  a  concealed  battery.  We 
passed  numerous  places  where  the  enemy  had  lately  been 
quartered,  tents  or  signs  of  tents  there  were  none,  merely 
the  remains  of  brush  shelters  which  lined  the  road.  As 
no  enemy  appeared  the  men  began  to  grow  careless. 
General  McDowell  says  :  ' '  They  stopped  every  moment 
to  pick  blackberries  or  get  water,  they  would  not  keep  in 
the  ranks,  order  as  much  as  you  please  ;  when  they  came 
where  water  was  fresh  they  would  pour  the  old  water  out 
of  their  canteens  and  fill  them  with  fresh  water  ;  they 
were  not  used  to  denying  themselves  much  ;  they  were 
not  used  to  journeys  on  foot."  The  Highlanders  strag 
gled  as  much  as  any  regiment— more,  our  brigade  com 
mander  thought,  than  any  other  ;  his  aids  were  con 
stantly  galloping  back  and  forth  along  the  line  with  mes 
sages  like  these  :  i  '  Colonel  Sherman  says  you  must  keep 
in  the  ranks  ;"  "  you  must  close  up  ;"  you  must  not  chase 
the  pigs  and  chickens,"  etc.,  etc.  The  bearers  of  these 
orders  were  treated  rather  cavalierly:  "Who  are  you, 
anyway?"  "Tell  Colonel  Sherman  we  will  get  all  the 
water,  pigs  and  chickens  we  want."  And  as  the  abused 
aids  rode  away  they  were  followed  by  the  jeers,  cat -calls, 
and  taunts  of  the  men. 

This,  was  all  done  in  a  playful  spirit  and  without  mal 
ice.  One  of  our  own  officers,  even,  did  not  escape  ridi 
cule,  which,  however,  he  invited.  Captain  -  -  had 
insisted  on  wearing  the  kilts  when  we  started  on  the 
march.  "  The  Highlanders,"  he  said,  "wear  the  kilts  in 
India,  and  surely  the  gnats  and  mosquitoes  of  Virginia 
are  not  so  troublesome  as  the  venomous  insects  of  the 
East."  Being  the  only  member  thus  arrayed  he  was  a 
conspicuous  figure.  His  love  for  fresh  pork,  and  utter 


i86i.  LAXITY   OF  DISCIPLINE.  21 

disregard  of  orders,  led  him,  with  drawn  sword,  to  give 
chase  to  a  young  pig.  The  chase  was  an  exciting  one  ; 
as  the  captain  ran,  his  kilts  flew  up,  and  his  long,  gaunt 
legs  were  exposed.  ' k  Put  on  your  drawers  !"  ' '  Take  off 
that  petticoat!"  "Put  on  your  pants!"  and,  as  the 
race  continued  :  "Go  it,  piggy  !"  and  "Catch  him  Cap 
tain,"  resounded  from  the  ranks  of  interested  spectators. 
The  climax  was  reached  when  the  porker,  hard  pressed, 
ran  through  a  snake  fence.  As  the  pig  squeezed  under 
the  lowest  rail  the  captain  threw  himself  over  the  top 
one,  and  in  the  act  made  such  an  exhibition  of  his  at 
tenuated  anatomy  as  to  call  forth  a  roar  of  laughter  from 
all  who  witnessed  it,  and  the  cries  of  ' '  Take  off  that  pet 
ticoat  !"  and  "  Put  on  your  pants  !"  were  repeated.  The 
captain  appeared  the  next  morning  in  ordinary  uniform. 

Referring  to  the  march,  General  Sherman  says  in  his 
Memoirs:  "The  march  demonstrated  little,  save  the 
general  laxity  of  discipline,  for  with  all  my  efforts  I 
could  not  prevent  the  men  from  straggling  for  water  or 
anytliing  on  the  way  they  fancied." 

We  did  not  believe  the  enemy  would  seriously  retard 
our  progress,  and  the  campaign  was  looked  upon  more 
in  the  nature  of  a  pleasant  excursion,  with  just  that 
amount  of  danger  which  served  to  make  it  interesting, 
than  a  military  advance  against  an  enemy.  We  were 
soon  to  be  undeceived,  however. 

On  the  night  of  the  17th  we  bivouacked  a  short  dis 
tance  east  from  Centre ville;  during  the  night  an  alarm  was 
raised  by  musket  firing  at  the  outposts  near  tlie  town, 
but  we  were  not  called  into  line.  At  seven  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  18th,  the  route  of  march  was  again 
pursued,  and  on  approaching  the  town  it  was  found  to 
be  evacuated. 

About  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  we  were  drawn  up 
in  line  across  the  Warrentoii  turnpike,  a  short  distance 
west  of  Centreville,  and  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  overlook- 


22  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

ing  the  valleys  of  Cub  and  Bull  Run.  While  resting  here 
it  may  be  well  to  look  behind  the  scenes  and  note  what 
the  enemy  had  done,  and  were  now  doing,  in  their 
efforts  to  ' '  welcome  us  with  bloody  hands  to  an  hospita 
ble  grave." 

Determined  to  act  on  the  defensive,  the  authorities  at 
Eichmond  had,  early  in  the  summer,  assembled  a  force 
at  Manassas  Junction,  thirty-five  miles  south-west  from 
Washington.  The  region  is  hilly,  and  it  is  here  that  the 
railroads  from  the  west  and  south-west  join  ;  it  will 
thus  be  seen  that  the  point  was  one  of  the  greatest  im 
portance  to  the  enemy,  as  the  railroads  enabled  him  to 
rapidly  concentrate  his  troops  and  supplies.  General  R. 
E.  Lee,  who  commanded  the  Virginia  troops  at  this  time, 
with  head-quarters  at  Richmond,  selected  for  the  com 
mand  of  the  "Army  of  the  Potomac,"  as  the  rebel  force 
at  Manassas  was  then  styled,  General  P.  G.  T.  Beaure- 
gard,  who,  less  than  six  months  before,  was  superintend 
ent  of  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  and  was 
now; very  popular  in  the  South,  by'reason  of  his  "bril 
liant"  victory  over  the  little  garrison  of  Fort  Sumter. 
The  order  assigning  him  to  the  command  of  the  ' '  Alex 
andria  Line "  is  dated  May  31st,  and  he  assumed  com 
mand  at  Manassas  at  once.  On  June  5th  Beauregard 
issued  ' '  To  the  good  people  of  the  counties  of  Louden, 
Fairfax  and  Prince  William,"  his  silly  "Beauty  and 
Booty  "  proclamation.  His  force  now  consisted  of  about 
twenty  thousand  men,  and  twenty-nine  guns.  In  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  had 
about  nine  thousand  more,  with  twenty-two  guns,  ready 
to  co-operate  with  Beauregard,  and  General  Holmes 
about  fifteen  hundred  men,  with  six  guns,  at  Acquia 
Creek. 

When  McDowell  began  his  march  he  expected  to 
encounter  only  Beauregard's  army  at  Manassas,  and 
General  Scott  promised  that  if  Johnston's  force  moved 


!86i.  GENERAL  IF.  23 

to  reinforce  Beauregard,  the  Union  General,  Patter 
son,  who  was  confronting  Johnston,  ' '  would  be  on  his 
(Johnston's)  heels."  Beauregard,  by  means  of  spies  at 
Washington,  was  kept  well  informed  of  the  plans  of 
General  Scott,  and  knew,  the  night  before,  that  the  army 
was  to  start  on  the  16th.  He  at  once  communicated  the 
intelligence  to  Kichmond,  and  the  authorities  there  ad 
vised  Johnston  to  co-operate  with  Beauregard,  and  also 
ordered  the  force  at  Acquia  Creek  to  join  the  latter. 
Beauregard  ordered  his  troops,  who  occupied  the  roads 
over  which  the  union  army  advanced,  to  "  retire  before 
superior  numbers,"  and  fall  back  on  the  main  body, 
now  securely  posted  along  the  western  bank  of  Bull  Run, 
from  the  Stone  Bridge  on  the  north,  to  Union  Mills  on  the 
south,  a  distance  of  about  six  miles.  Between,  and  inclu 
ding  these  two  points,  there  are  seven  places  at  which  an 
army  might  cross  ;  beginning  with  the  enemy's  left  flank 
we  have  the  Stone  Bridge,  Lewis'  Ford,  Ball's  Ford,  Mitch 
ell's  Ford,  Blackburn's  Ford,  McLean's  Ford,  and  lastly, 
the  railroad  bridge  and  ford  at  Union  Mills.  The  stream 
runs  in  an  irregular  south-easterly  direction,  and  the  west 
ern  or  southern  bank,  especially,  is  high,  and  in  many 
places  precipitous.  Longstreet's  brigade  guarded  Black 
burn's  Ford. 

To  return  to  the  Union  army  :  McDowell's  plan  may 
be  briefly  stated  as  follows  :  To  send  a  division  to  Centre- 
ville  and  menace  that  point,  and  then,  with  the  bulk  of 
his  army,  march  on  Manassas  Junction,  and  crush  Beau- 
regard  who  was  believed  to  have  less  than  ten  thousand 
men  under  his  command.  McDowell's  plan  was  a  good 
one,  and  if  it  could  have  been  carried  out  would  have  been 
successful.  But  "ifs"  lost  us  Bull  Run,  as  General 
Grant  said  "ifs"  lost  the  enemy  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 
"  General  If"  proved  to  be  an  important  factor  on  both 
sides  in  all  the  engagements  fought  during  the  war. 

General  Tyler  had  been  instructed  to  "observe  well  the 


24  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  Julyr 

roads  but  to  bring  on  no  engagement. "  Just  before  noon, 
however,  he  decided  to  make  a  reconnoissance,  and  for 
this  purpose  took  Richardson's  brigade,  Ayer's  battery, 
two  twenty-pounder  Parrots  under  Lieutenant  S.  N.  Ben 
jamin,  and  a  squadron  .of  cavalry,  and  proceeded  towards 
Blackburn's  Ford,  some  three  miles  down  the  stream.  In 
a  short  time  the  sound  of  cannon  was  heard,  soon  after 
which  Sherman's  brigade  was  ordered  to  the  support  of 
Richardson's.  We  were  double-quicked  nearly  all  the 
way,  and  when,  just  as  we  emerged  from  the  woods  into 
a  little  clearing,  we  heard  the  sound  of  musketry  added 
to  the  roar  of  cannon,  we  raised  a  cheer  to  notify  our 
friends  that  we  were  coming ;  the  enemy  heard  it  too, 
and  being  familiar  with  the  location  of  the  road,  their 
shot  and  shell  were  soon  dropping  about  us.  As  this  was 
the  first  time  we  had  been  under  fire,  the  experience  was 
somewhat  novel — cheering,  and  even  loud  talking  ceased  ; 
men  began  to  look  serious — what  if  one  of  those  shells 
should  hit  us  ?  But  as  shot  after  shot  passed  over  our 
heads,  or  struck  the  ground  on  either  side  without  doing 
any  damage,  our  courage  began  to  mount  again.  We 
were  now  ordered  to  deposit  our  blankets  and  haversacks 
in  a  pile  by  the  road-side,  after  which  we  moved  by  the 
left  flank  into  the  woods,  where  line  was  formed,  and  we 
waited  with  mingled  feelings  of  curiosity  and  fear  for  the 
next  movement. 

Just  as  the  left  of  the  line  was  turning  into  the  woods, 
Robert  B.  Davis  of  Company  K.  was  wounded  by  a  piece 
of  shell,  the  first  casualty.  We  could  see  absolutely  noth 
ing  of  the  enemy,  the  thick  woods  intervening  between 
us  and  their  position,  but  we  could  plainly  hear  the  cheers 
on  one  side  and  the  yells  on  the  other,  mingled  with 
musketry  fire  and  cannon  shots.  As  the  bullets  flew  sing 
ing  over  our  heads,  and  the  shot  and  shell  crashed  through 
the  tree -tops,  cutting  down  branches  and  limbs  which 
fell  about  us,  the  men  ducked  and  dodged,  and  he  who 


j86i.  MAY  DODGE   THE   BIG   ONES.  25 

had  a  big,  or  even  a  little  tree,  behind  which  to  shelter 
himself,  was  looked  upon  with  envy  by  those  who  con 
sidered  themselves  more  exposed.  Colonel  Sherman  who 
rode  slowly  up  and  down  the  lines,  noticing  the  men 
" ducking"  every  time  a  bullet  or  shell  passed  over,  ad 
vised  us  to  "keep  cool,"  adding  that  there  was  no  use  of 
ducking,  for  when  we  heard  the  sound  of  the  bullets  all 
danger  was  past.  Hardly  had  the  words  left  his  lips, 
when  a  big  shot  or  shell  came  crashing  through  the  trees 
and  but  a  few  feet  above  him  ;  down  went  his  head  close 
to  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  and  when  he  raised  it  again 
it  was  to  confront  a  line  of  grinning  faces.  "Well, 
boys,"  said  he,  a  broad  smile  softening  his  rather  hard 
features,  "  you  may  dodge  the  big  ones." 

It  was  now  the  middle  of  the  afternoon — between  eighty 
and  ninety  of  Eichardson's  brigade  had  been  killed,  woun 
ded  and  captured — and  General  Tyler,  recalling  his  instruc 
tions  "  not  to  bring  on  an  engagement,"  ordered  the  troops 
to  withdraw.  The  loss  was  very  heavy — far  too  heavy- 
for  a  mere  reconnoissance,  but  the  fact  was  developed 
that  the  fords  of  Bull  Run  were  so  well  guarded,  that 
McDowelFs  plan  would  need  revision  before  the  main  at 
tack  was  made.  The  Confederate  reports  of  the  engage 
ment  admitted  a  loss  of  between  sixty  and  seventy,  and 
that  Longstreet's  brigade  was  so  completely  shaken  up, 
that  Early's  brigade  was  obliged  to  take  its  place  before 
the  battle  ended.  Another  thing  we  discovered— the 
"Johnnies"  would  fight !  and  our  dreams  of  a  "walk 
over "  were  dispelled.  When  the  advance  brigade  was 
withdrawn,  our's  remained  to  bring  up  the  rear,  and 
meanwhile  several  of  us  visited  the  field  hospital  close  by. 
The  sight  of  the  dead  and  dying  made  us  feel  rather  so 
ber.  The  poor  wounded  fellows  lay  all  about  on  the 
ground,  some  appearing  cheerful,  others  groaning  or 
screaming  with  pain.  Here  lay  the  dead  body  of  a  boy, 
not  more  than  eighteen  years  of  age— "  his  mother's  hope, 


26  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July,. 

his  father's  joy."    How  soon  his  career  was  ended  !    A 
young  volunteer  in  the  morning,  a  dead  hero  at  night ! 

When  ordered  to  return  to  Centre ville,  a  number  of  our 
men  found  their  blankets  and  haversacks  missing,  stolen 
doubtless  by  stragglers  from  the  front,  who  had  lost  their's 
in  the  action  ;  when  we  went  into  bivouac  that  night, 
however,  every  man  seemed  to  be  supplied.  Thus  early 
in  their  career  did  the  Highlanders  learn  to  look  out  for 
number  one. 

The  conversation  around  the  camp  fires  that  evening 
was  mainly  about  the  engagement,  and  there  was  not 
wanting  the  usual  number  of  critics  whose  hindsight  was 
better  than  their  foresight.  The  old  "  Breetish  "  soldiers 
were  the  greatest  experts.  How  knowingly  they  talked  ! 
And  with  what  contempt  did  they  allude  to  our  army  ! 
Soldiers  forsooth  !  "  Why,  a  regiment  of  '  Breetish '  sol 
diers  would  have  gone  across  that  ford  and  routed  the 
whole  '  Secesh  '  army  !"  We  greenhorns  listened  to  such 
"rot "  till  we  were  tired,  and  then  recalled  several  instan 
ces  wherein  the  very  flower  of  the  "  Breetish  "  army  had 
fled  before  a  mere  handful  of  Yankees  armed  only  with 
shot-guns  and  squirrel  rifles.  This  silenced  the  croakers. 

The  Union  army  was  now  concentrated  at  Centreville, 
and  that  night  McDowell  informed  his  senior  officers  that 
he  should  endeavor  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  the  rebel 
army.  Part  of  the  regiment  was  sent  out  on  picket  on 
this  evening,  and  considerable  excitement  was  caused  by 
our  being  fired  on,  through  a  mistake,  by  some  of  the 
Sixty-Ninth  ;  no  one  was  hurt,  however.  The  next  two 
days  were  employed  in  examining  the  ground  north  of 
the  Stone  Bridge  for  a  favorable  crossing  place,  and 
the  enemy  were  taking  advantage  of  our  delay.  Beau- 
regard  says:  "General  McDowell,  fortunately  for  my 
plans,  spent  the  nineteenth  and  twentieth  in  reconnois- 
sances  ;  and  meanwhile  General  Johnston  brought  six 
thousand  men  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  with  twenty 


i86i. 


THE   STONE  BRIDGE.  29 


guns,  and  General  Holmes  twelve  hundred  and  sixty- 
five,  rank  and  file,  with  six  pieces  of  artillery,  from  Ac- 
quia  Creek  ;  as  these  forces  arrived  (most  of  them  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  nineteenth),  I  placed  them  chiefly  so  as 
to  strengthen  my  left  centre  and  left." 

During  this  interval  the  Highlanders  performed  their 
share  of  guard  and  picket  duty,  but  as  no  conflict  with 
the  enemy  occurred,  and  we  were  not  again  fired  on  by 
our  friends,  the  time  passed  quietly.  It  was  not  until  a 
late  hour  on  Saturday  that  a  favorable  crossing-place  was 
found ;  this  proved  to  be  at  Sudley  Ford,  about  three 
miles  up  the  stream.  In  the  evening  McDowell  called  his 
officers  together  and  announced  to  them  his  plans  for 
battle  on  the  following  day. 

McDowell  was  not  aware  that  Johnston  had  joined 
Beauregard,  and  in  order  to  prevent  this  anticipated 
junction,  Gainesville,  on  the  Maiiassas  Gap  railroad,  was 
to  be  occupied.  To  this  end,  Tyler's  division  was  to  make 
a  demonstration  in  front  of  the  Stone  Bridge,  while  Hun 
ter's  and  Heiiitzleman's  were  to  make  a  detour  to  our 
right,  cross  the  stream  at  Sudley  Ford,  and  move  down 
on  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  uncover  the  Stone  Bridge 
and  allow  Tyler's  division  to  cross  ;  then  the  army  was  to 
move  011  to  Gainesvile,  or  engage  the  enemy,  as  circum 
stances  might  warrant. 

About  two  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  the  pickets  were 
called  in  and  the  men  ordered  to  pack  up  and  be  ready  to 
move  at  a  moment's  notice  ;  in  half  an  hour  the  march 
began  and  we  advanced  along  the  Warrenton  turnpike, 
crossed  the  bridge  over  Cub  Eun,  and  halted  about  mid 
way  between  there  and  the  Stone  Bridge,  where  we  re 
mained  till  near  daylight ;  we  then  proceeded  to  within 
half  a  mile  of  the  bridge  and  filed  off  to  the  right  into  the 
woods  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  where  we  were 
drawn  up  in  line.  Schenck's  brigade  was  on  our  left,  and 
between  us  were  placed  the  smooth-bore  guns  of  Carlisle's 


30  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

battery,  while  in  our  rear  on  the  hill-side,  there  were  two 
twenty  and  one  thirty-pounder  Parrots  under  Captain 
Ayers.  As  soon  as  we  were  in  position  these  rifled  guns 
opened  as  a  signal  that  our  position  had  been  attained. 
(Beauregard  says  the  second  shot  fired  from  the  rifled 
guns  went  through  the  tent  of  one  of  his  staff  officers.) 

Hunter  and  Heintzleman  were  now  working  their  way 
around  to  Sudley  Ford,  but  the  road  was  of  such  a  char 
acter  that  the  ford  was  not  reached  for  an  hour  or  two 
after  the  appointed  time. 

Meanwhile,  the  enemy  were  making  preparations  to 
take  the  offensive.  When  Johnston  came  up  on  Satur 
day,  and  by  virtue  of  his  rank  assumed  command  of  the 
combined  rebel  forces,  it  was  decided  to  cross  the  run  at 
the  lower  fords,  attack  the  Union  Army  at  Centreville, 
and  get  between  it  and  Washington — "gobble  us  up," 
as  it  were  ;  but  the  Union  Army  had  made  the  first  move, 
and  when  daylight  appeared  the  enemy  found  business 
enough  on  his  left  to  attend  to,  and  the  contemplated 
movement  by  his  right  wing  was  abandoned. 

It  was  near  ten  o'clock  before  Hunter  and  Heintzleman 
became  actively,  engaged  with  the  enemy ;  Sudley  Ford 
had  been  crossed  without  opposition  and  our  troops 
moved  down  the  Sudley  road  towards  the  Warrenton  pike, 
which  it  crosses  at  right  angles  about  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  west  of  the  Stone  Bridge.  The  enemy  could  now 
be  seen  hurrying  forward  to  repel  the  Union  advance  ; 
several  shots  were  fired  by  the  smooth-bore  guns  of  Car 
lisle's  battery,  but  they  fell  short,  and  as  our  rifled  pieces 
had  been  withdrawn  to  another  point,  we  could  only  wait 
and  watch.  Clouds  of  dust  rising  above  the  tree  tops 
along  the  line  of  the  Sudley  road,  and  the  occasional 
gleam  of  bayonets  as  they  reflected  the  morning  sun,  was 
all  that  we  could  see.  Eegardiiig  the  movements  of  the 
enemy  at  this  time  Beauregard  says:  "At  half  past 
eight  o'clock  Evans,  who  commanded  the  troops  posted 


1 86 1.  WERE   SOMEWHAT   GREEN.  31 

to  defend  the  passage  of  the  Stone  Bridge,  seeing  that  the 
Federal  attack  did  not  increase  in  boldness  and  vigor,  and 
observing  a  lengthening  line  of  dust  above  the  trees  to 
the  left  of  the  Warrenton  turnpike  (Hunter's  and 
Heintzlemaii's  column),  became  satisfied  that  the  attack 
in  his  front  was  but  a  feint,  and  that  a  column  of  the 
enemy  was  moving  around  through  the  woods  to  fall  on  his 
flank  from  the  direction  of  Sudley  Ford.  Informing  his 
immediate  commander,  Cocke,  of  the  enemy's  move 
ment,  and  of  his  own  disposition  to  meet  it,  he  left  four 
companies  under  cover  at  the  Stone  Bridge,  and  led  the 
remainder  of  his  force,  six  companies  of  Sloan's  Fourth 
South  Carolina  and  Wheat's  battalion  of  Louisiana  Tigers, 
with  two  six-pounder  howitzers,  across  the  valley  of 
Youngs'  Branch  to  the  high  ground  beyond  it."  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  for  an  hour  or  more  the  bridge  was 
defended  by  only  four  companies  of  infantry  (with  pos 
sibly  a  couple  of  small  guns),  while  our  two  brigades  lay 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  position.  Why,  it  may  be 
asked,  did  not  McDowell  attempt  the  passage  ?  The  reply 
is  that  the  officers,  as  well  as  the  men,  were  somewhat 
" green"  at  that  time,  and  all  were  inclined  to  be  cau 
tious.  Being  in  an  enemy's  country  it  was  next  to  impos 
sible  to  obtain  information  respecting  his  forces  and 
positions,  and  it  was  reported  that  the  bridge,  besides 
being  heavily  defended  by  batteries,  was  also  mined  ready 
to  be  blown  up  as  soon  as  an  assault  was  made,  and  the 
safer  policy  was  adopted,  of  flanking  a  position  thought 
to  be  too  strong  to  carry  by  assault. 

While  we  remained  in  the  woods,  the  men  occupied 
themselves  in  a  variety  of  ways  ;  some  were  active  and 
climbed  the  trees  for  a  better  view  of  the  field  where  the 
fighting  was  going  on  ;  others  sat  and  chatted  in  subdued 
tones,  and  wondered  if  we  would  be  called  into  the  fight ; 
we  were  all  very  thirsty,  and  the  vicinity  was  searched 
for  water,  but  little  of  which  was  found,  and  that  only  in 


32  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

puddles  ;  our  patent  niters  were  used  to  strain  the  roily 
water,  and  an  amount  of  sucking  was  indulged  in  that 
would  have  put  a  babies'  nursery  to  the  blush.  Never 
having  been  actively  engaged  in  battle  we  knew  little  of 
the  experience  in  store  for  us.  On  subsequent  occasions 
this  period  of  waiting — this  uncertainty — produced  in  the 
minds  of  many  a  feeling  of  fear,  which  would  not  disap 
pear  till  the  actual  clash  of  arms  gave  us  something  more 
important  to  think  about.  Unseen  danger,  when  one  is 
aware  it  exists,  is  far  more  demoralizing  than  the  open 
conflict,  where  man  can  stand  against  man  and  decide 
the  issue  by  superior  strength  or  skill.  But  our  time  was 
fast  approaching. 

About  110011,  the  enemy  under  Bee,  Bartow  and  Evans 
had  been  driven  from  their  position  near  the  Mathews 
House,  down  the  Sudley  road,  across  Youngs'  Branch, 
and  McDowell  supposed  they  would  continue  their  retreat, 
for  he  now  gave  orders  to  "  pur  sue  "  the  enemy,  and  sent 
word  for  Sherman's  and  Keyes'  brigades  to  cross  the  run 
for  that  purpose. 


i86i.  SHAKE   HIS   SWORD.  33 


CHAPTEE   III. 

THE  BULL  RUN  CAMPAIGN.— [CONCLUDED.] 

HIGHLANDERS  Cross  the  Stream. — Major  Wheat  of  the  Louisiana  "  Tigers. "— 
The  First  Dead  Man.— An  Incident.— General  McDowell  and  Staff. — "Give 
us  a  chance,  General,  before  they  all  run  away!" — The  Situation. — "Stone 
wall"  Jackson. — Sherman's  Brigade  Ordered  to  Join  in  the  "Pursuit." — Rick- 
etts'  and  Griffin's  Batteries.— Advance  of  the  Second  Wisconsin. — "  Come  on 
My  Brave  Highlanders  !" — Assault  on  the  Henry  Hill. — Death  of  Col.  Cameron 
and  Captain  Brown. — "Cease  Firing!  You're  Shooting  Your  Own  Men!" 
The  Repulse. —Experience  on  the  Field. — "I'll  hae  anither  shot." — Young's 
Branch. — Account  of  Capt.  Ellis. — Form,  and  Repel  Cavalry. — "  Bull  Run  " 
Russell. — Reason  why  the  Enemy  did  not  Follow  up  Their  Advantage. — Our 
"Tiger." — A  Cavalry  Dash. — Blockade  at  Cub  Run. — How  Some  of  the 
Stragglers  Reached  Arlington  Heights.— Fort  Albany  and  the  Twenty-Fifth 
N.  Y. — Return  to  Camp  Weed. — Numbers  Engaged  and  Losses  on  Both  Sides. 
—Jefferson  Davis  on  the  Field.— Gen.  Jos.  E.  Johnston  cited. 

C  HORTLY  after  noon,  we  moved  by  the  right  flank,  and 
crossed  the  stream  at  Farm  Ford,  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  north  of  the  bridge.  Early  in  the  day,  while  recon- 
noitering,  Colonel  Sherman  had  noticed  a  horseman  de 
scend  the  opposite  bank,  ride  to  our  side  of  the  run  and 
shake  his  sword  as  if  defying  us  to  cross  ;  this  officer 
proved  to  be  Major  Wheat  of  the  Louisiana  Tigers,  who 
served  our  brigade  a  good  turn  by  showing  us  the  road. 
We  marched  slowly  up  the  south  bank  till  we  came  to 
the  level  ground  near  the  Carter  mansion,  and  the  field 
from  which  the  enemy  had  just  been  driven  lay  before 
us.  From  a  letter  written  just  after  the  battle  the  fol 
lowing  is  extracted  : 

"Just  as  we  emerged  from  the  fringe  of  woods  which 
lined  the  stream,  and  entered  the  open  ground,  a  sight 
3 


34  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  v         July, 

met  my  gaze  which  caused  a  cold  shudder  to  run  down 
my  back-hone  ;  it  was  the  body  of  a  soldier — whether  in 
blue  or  in  gray  I  do  not  remember — lying  stark  and  stiff, 
just  as  he  had  fallen  ;  the  body  lay  partly  on  its  side,  the 
knees  drawn  up,  hands  clenched,  and  the  already  black 
ening  face  upturned  to  the  fierce  rays  of  the  July  sun. 
Opportunely,  however,  for  my  courage  began  to  fail  at 
the  horrible  sight,  and  in  contemplation  of  what  might 
be  in  store  for  me,  a  shell  struck  and  exploded  under  the 
heels  of  an  officer's  horse,  but  a  few  feet  distant,  sending 
the  fragments  hurtling  about  us,  and  filling  the  air  with 
dust  and  smoke  ;  the  horse  reared  and  threw  his  rider. 
This  incident  dispelled  for  the  moment  the  previous 
sight,  and  before  I  had  time  to  think  of  the  matter 
again,  we  had  formed  in  front  of  the  Carter  house,  on 
the  brow  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  valley  of  Young's 
Branch.  Just  as  we  halted,  McDowell  and  staff  rode 
down  the  lines,  waving  their  caps  and  shouting,  "Vic 
tory  !  Victory  !  The  day  is  ours  !  "  Under  the  enthu 
siasm  of  the  moment  I  remember  stepping  out  of  the 
ranks  as  McDowell  approached,  and  shouting  :  k  k  Give  us 
a  chance  at  them,  General,  before  they  all  run  away  ! " 
A  comrade  at  my  elbow,  in  a  tremulous  voice  remarked  : 
tfc  Shut  up  your  d — d  head  ;  you  '11  get  chances  enough, 
maybe,  before  the  day  is  over."  I  turned  my  head  and 
saw  it  was  one  of  our  old  "Breetish"  soldiers,  his  face 
pale  as  death  and  his  body  quivering  with  fear.  But  his 
words  were  prophetic. 

The  situation  at  that  moment  was  this  :  The  troops 
of  Evans,  Bee  and  Bartow  had  been  driven  from  the  hill 
on  which  we  stood,  and  had  retreated  in  confusion  to  the 
opposite  hill,  south  of  Young's  Branch  and  the  Warren- 
ton  pike.  On  this  hill,  to  the  left,  stood  the  Eobinson 
house,  and  on  the  same  ridge  but  further  off  on  our  right 
—  as  the  crest  of  the  hill  trended  to  the  southwest  —  was 
the  Henry  house.  Jackson's  brigade  \v.as  hurrying  for- 


i86i.  A   DESTRUCTIVE   FIRE.  35 

ward  from  the  enemy's  right  wing  to  assist  in  defending 
the  passage  of  the  Stone  Bridge,  now  uncovered  hy  the 
repulse  of  their  left,  when  he  met  the  retreating  troops  ; 
taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  he  formed  his  brigade 
between,  and  a  short  distance  back  of,  the  Robinson  and 
Henry  houses,  and  the  demoralized  troops  rallied  behind 
him.  As  the  enemy  were  driven  further  back  their  lines 
became  more  compact  and  soon  occupied  a  strip  of  woods 
a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of  these  two  houses.  In 
front  of  their  position  the  ground  was  level,  and  as  our 
troops  advanced  they  were  met  by  a  destructive  fire  as 
soon  as  they  showed  themselves  above  the  crest  of  the 
hill.  Still  farther  to  our  right,  and  west  of  the  Sudley 
road,  stood  the  Chinn  house,  behind  which  Early  was 
posted. 

But  our  advance  line  had  effected  a  lodgment  on  the 
Henry  hill,  and  two  batteries,  Ricketts'  and  Griffin's, 
were  soon  posted  on  the  level  ground  immediately  south 
of  the  Henry  house,  where  they  maintained  for  a  while 
a  sharp  fire  on  the  enemy.  Keyes'  brigade  was  now  sent 
to  attack  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy  posted  behind  the 
Robinson  house  ;  he  gained  the  level  ground,  but  the 
enemy's  fire  was  so  destructive  that  he  was  soon  com 
pelled  to  withdraw.  Nevertheless  it  was  believed  that 
the  enemy  was  retreating,  and  Sherman's  brigade  was 
ordered  to  join  in  the  "pursuit,"  and  with  this  purpose 
in  view  we  moved  diagonally  across  the  field  to  the 
southwest,  crossed  Young's  Branch  near  the  intersection 
of  the  Warrentoii  turnpike  and  Sudley  road,  and  then 
marched  by  the  flank  down  the  latter.  While  this  move 
ment  was  being  executed  the  enemy  rallied,  and,  aided 
by  heavy  reinforcements  which  had  just  arrived,  made  a  . 
most  determined  effort  to  re-take  the  Henry  hill.  Nic- 
olay  in  Vol.  I.,  " Campaigns  of  the  Civil  War,"  says: 
"Hardly  had  Ricketts  taken  his  post  before  his  cannon- 
iers  and  horses  began  to  fall  under  the  accurate  fire  of 


36  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July 

near  and  well  concealed  rebel  sharpshooters.  Death 
puffed  from  bushes,  fences,  buildings  ;  and  yet  the  jets 
of  flame  and  wreaths  of  smoke  were  the  only  visible 
'enemy  to  assail.  Officers  and  cannoniers  held  on  with  a 
desperate  courage  ;  some  moved  to  new  positions  to  foil 
the  rebel  range.  Griffin's  battery  came  and  took  place 
alongside ;  eleven  Union  guns  and  thirteen  Confederate 
guns  were  confronted  at  short  range  in  a  stubborn  and 
exciting  duel.  But  now  the  rebel  regiments,  seeing  the 
dangerous  exposure  of  the  Union  batteries,  were  tempted 
to  swarm  out  of  their  cover.  They  pressed  cautiously 
but  tenaciously  upon  Eicketts.  Griffin,  absorbed  in 
directing  the  fire  pf  two  of  his  guns  against  the  rebel 
batteries,  was  suddenly  startled  at  seeing  a  regiment 
advancing  boldly  on  his  right  in  open  view.  Their  very 
audacity  puzzled  him.  They  could  hardly  be  friends,  he 
thought  ;  yet  was  it  possible  that  foes  were  so  near  and 
would  take  such  a  risk  ?  Instinctively  he  ordered  his 
guns  to  be  charged  with  canister  and  trained  upon  them. 
Yet  at  the  dreadful  thought  of  pouring  such  a  volley 
upon  a  Union  regiment,  he  once  more  hesitated  and  held 
a  brief  colloquy  with  Major  Barry,  chief  of  artillery. 
'Captain,'  said  Barry,  'they  are  your  battery  support.' 
'  They  are  Confederates, '  replied  Griffin,  in  intense  excite 
ment ;  'as  certain  as  the  world  they  are  Confederates.' 
'No,'  answered  Barry,  'I  know  they  are  your  battery 
support.1  Griffin  spurred  forward  and  told  his  officer 
not  to  fire.  The  mistake  proved  fatal.  During  this 
interval  of  doubt,  the  Confederate  regiment  had  ap 
proached  to  point-blank  range,  and  leveled  their  muskets 
just  as  Griffin  gave  his  orders  to  desist.  Griffin's  can- 
nister  would  have  annihilated  the  regiment ;  but  now 
the  tables  were  turned,  and  in  an  instant  the  regiment's 
volley  had  annihilated  Griffin's  and  Ricketts'  batteries. 
Officers  and  men  fell  smitten  with  death  and  wounds, 
and  horses  and  caissons  went  tearing  in  wild  disorder 


i86i.  GET   AT   THE   ENEMY.  37 

down  the  hill,  breaking  and  scattering  the  ascending 
line  of  battle.  Under  this  sudden  catastrophe  the  sup 
porting  regiment  stood  a  while  spellbound  with  mingled 
astonishment  and  terror.  They  were  urged  forward  to 
repel  the  advance  on  the  guns  ;  but  the  unexpected  dis 
aster  overawed  them  ;  under  the  continued  and  still 
advancing  volleys  of  the  same  rebel  regiment  they  fired 
their  muskets,  turned  and  fled."  Regiment  after  regi 
ment  was  now  sent  forward  to  occupy  the  position  and 
save  the  guns,  but  while  temporary  success  attended 
their  efforts,  they  were  not  able  to  retain  the  position. 
From  our  place  in  the  Sudley  road  we  were  unable  to 
witness  all  that  had  just  transpired  ;  the  depression  of 
the  roadway  prevented  our  seeing,  and  also  saved  us 
from  the  musketry  fire  of  the  enemy,  but  the  shells  from 
their  batteries  in  the  rear  of  the  Henry  house  dropped 
into  the  road,  killing  and  wounding  some  and  making 
us  all  feel  nervous  and  excited.  Sherman  in  his  report 
says  :  "  Before  reaching  the  crest  of  the  hill  the  roadway 
was  worn  deep  enough  to  afford  shelter,  and  I  kept  the 
several  regiments  in  it  as  long  as  possible,  but  when  the 
Second  Wisconsin  was  abreast  of  the  enemy  it  was 
ordered  to  leave  the  roadway  by  the  left  flank  and 
attack  the  enemy.  This  regiment  ascended  to  the  brow 
of  the  hill  steadily,  received  the  severe  fire  of  the  enemy, 
returned  it  with  spirit,  and  advancing  delivered  its  fire. 
It  was  repulsed,  rallied,  and  repulsed  again.  By  this 
time  the  Seventy-Ninth  New  York  had  closed  up,  and  in 
like  manner  it  was  ordered  to  cross  the  brow  of  the  hill 
and  drive  the  enemy  from  cover."  On  receiving  his 
orders  from  the  brigade  commander,  Colonel  Cameron 
placed  himself  on  the  right  of  the  regiment,  and  shouting 
"Come  on,  my  brave  Highlanders  !"  led  the  way.  All 
feelings  of  fear  or  even  of  nervousness  at  once  vanished  ; 
every  man  felt  himself  a  hero,  and  our  only  thought  was 
to  get  at  the  enemy  and  drive  him  from  the  field.  When 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

half  way  up  the  hill,  on  the  brow  of  which  the  enemy 
was  posted,  we  received  his  first  volley,  and  many  of 
our  comrades  fell.  This  threw  us  into  some  confusion, 
but  under  the  directions  of  our  officers  we  reformed  and 
pressed  on,  delivering  our  fire  and  receiving  another 
murderous  volley,  in  return,  by  which  Colonel  Cameron 
was  killed ;  this,  with  the  constant  fire  of  shells  from 
their  batteries,  somewhat  staggered  us,  but  reforming 
we  again  pressed  forward.  Dismounted  guns  and  broken 
caissons  littered  the  hillside,  and  behind  these  many  of 
our  men  stopped  to  reload  their  pieces,  when  they  would 
again  move  forward  to  the  assault.  Suddenly  some  one 
cried  out,  4 '  Cease  firing  !  you  're  shooting  your  own 
men  ! "  "No  they  ain't !  "  another  replied  ;  "do  n't  you 
see  they  are  firing  at  us?"  But  a  glance  to  our  front 
and  right  rendered  some  of  us  uncertain  ;  directly  in 
front  of  the  Henry  house  a  body  of  men  with  what 
appeared  to  be  a  Union  flag  in  their  midst  was  slowly 
forming  in  line  on  the  crest  of  the  hill,  less  than  two 
hundred  yards  away.  Contradictory  orders  again  rang 
out — "Blaze  away,  boys  !  they  're  only  trying  to  deceive 
us  ! "  "Cease  firing,  I  tell  you  !  they  are  our  own  men  ! " 
By  this  time  the  line  on  the  hill-top  had  formed  and  all 
doubt  as  to  their  identity  vanished.  ' '  Ready !  aim !  fire ! " 
came  from  that  column,  and  a  shower  of  bullets  crashed 
through  our  already  torn  and  bleeding  ranks  !  This 
caused  us  to  waver  again,  and  after  receiving  another  vol 
ley,  in  which  the  gallant  Captain  Brown,  of  Company  D, 
was  killed,  we  turned  and  sought  cover  under  the  hill. 
Sherman  says  further  in  his  report :  ' '  The  Seventy- 
Ninth,  headed  by  its  Colonel,  charged  across  the  hill, 
and  for  a  short  time  the  contest  was  severe.  They 
rallied  several  times  under  fire,  but  finally  broke  and 
gained  the  cover  of  the  hill."  The  Thirteenth  New 
York  had  made  their  assault  more  to  our  left  and 
nearer  the  Robinson  house,  but  were  also  driven  back  ; 


i86i.  MA  SHOUTHER'S  SAKE.  41 

the  Sixty-Ninth  were  sent  in  a  little  to  our  right  when 
the  Highlanders  fell  back,  but  after  remaining  under  fire 
for  about  fifteen  minutes  they  too  were  compelled  to 
withdraw.  One  of  our  number  thus  relates  his  expe 
rience  at  this  time  :  "On  retiring  from  this  deadly  hill 
side,  I  became  separated  from  the  main  body  of  the 
regiment,  and  on  passing  a  clump  of  young  pines  heard 
my  name  called  ;  looking  into  the  brush,  I  found  a 
member  of  my  own  company,  severely  wounded  in  the 
shoulder,  but  still  trying  to  load  his  musket.  'Come, 
Black,'  I  exclaimed,  'this  is  no  place  for  us  !  The  regi 
ment  has  fallen  back  and  we  will  be  captured  if  we  stay 
here  ! '  '  Well,'  was  the  reply,  '  just  ram  home  this  cart 
ridge  for  me  ;  ma  shoutlier  's  sair  and  I  canna  draw  the 
ramrod.  1 11  hae  anither  shot  at  the  beggars  anyway  ! ' 
So  the  cartridge  was  rammed  home,  and,  stepping  out  of 
the  bush,  my  wounded  comrade"  managed  to  raise  his 
musket  and  fire  a  parting  shot.  That  we  were  not 
observed  was  doubtless  owing  to  an  assault  made  by  the 
extreme  right  of  our  line  at  that  moment,  and  the 
enemy's  attention  was  drawn  in  that  direction.  We 
took  our  way  back  towards  the  Sudley  road,  and  had 
just  reached  Young's  Branch  when  we  met  a  party  of 
our  men  carrying  the  body  of  Colonel  Cameron.  The 
stream  was  now  muddy  and  bloody,  horses  and  men 
were  wading  through  it,  dead  and  dying  men  and  ani 
mals  lay  in  and  near  it,  their  blood  mingling  with  the 
stream  ;  and  yet  men  were  dipping  up  and  drinking  the 
foul  water  !  Necessity  alone  compelled  us  to  do  this." 

Captain  Ellis,  in  reply  to  a  request  from  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Elliot,  that  he  would  give  a  brief  account  of  what 
transpired  under  his  own  personal  notice  during  the  bat 
tle — the  Lieutenant-Colonel  not  being  present  with  the 
regiment  during  the  engagement— wrote  as  follows  : 

"  When  near  the  top  (of  the  Henry  hill),  we  were  met 
by  most  destructive  vollevs  of  cannon  and  small-arms. 


42  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  Julyr 

But  the  regiment  stood  its  ground.  Compelled  at  length 
to  seek  the  cover  of  the  hillside  to  reform  our  decimated 
ranks,  Colonel  Cameron  endeavored  to  obtain  ammuni 
tion  to  work  five  guns  of  Ricketts1  (?)  battery,  which  were 
lying  useless,  as  horses  and  gunners  were  slain.  Not 
succeeding  in  this,  he  again  rushed  into  the  hottest  fire, 
when  I  saw  him  throw  up  his  arms  and  fall.  Lieutenant 
S.  R.  Elliot  and  myself  ran  to  his  assistance,  but  life 
was  extinct ;  he  had  been  shot  through  the  breast  with 
a  large  rifle-ball.  Captain  Laing  came  up  at  the  same 
instant.  *  *  I  then  called  to  some  of  our  men,  and 
lifting  the  body  upon  crossed  muskets  we  bore  it  away. 
The  bullets  fell  like  hail  around  us.  Three  of 
our  party  were  shot  and  myself  wounded.  When  about 
half  way  to  the  hospital  we  met  Captain  Morrison.  * 
*  He  walked  a  short  distance  with  us.  *  *  I 
gave  the  body  in  charge  of  Dr.  Buckstone,  of  the  Second 
Maine  Regiment/'  (The  body,  left  on  the  field,  was 
afterwards  recovered  through  a  flag  of  truce.) 

But  we  were  urged  to  hurry  to  the  crest  of  the  hill  north 
of  the  stream,  on  which  we  had  formed  when  first  we 
crossed  Bull  Run  ;  here  we  found  Colonels  Sherman  and 
Corcoran,  with  Captains  Manson  and  Morrison  and  other 
officers  of  our  own  regiment,  endeavoring  to  rally  the 
men  of  the  brigade. 

"Get  into  the  ranks  here  !"  they  called  out ;  "if  you 
straggle  away  the  Cavalry  will  cut  you  down  !'•  "  Look 
out  for  the  Black  Horse  Cavalry  !" 

By  great  exertions  a  large  number  of  the  brigade  were 
got  in  line  in  time  to  form  two  sides  of  a  square,  the  apex 
pointing  towards  the  Sudley  road,  along  which  we  could 
hear  the  thundering  tramp  of  a  body  of  horsemen. 
Some  of  our  number,  afraid  of  a  cavalry  charge,  had 
left  the  ranks  and  sought  shelter  in  the  woods  ;  enough 
remained,  however,  to  deliver  a  rattling  volley  at  the 
approaching  squadron,  who,  without  waiting  for  aiiothery 


i86i.  FAMOUS   CORRESPONDENT.  43 

turned  and  dashed  off  across  the  fields  in  pursuit  of  the 
fugitives. 

The  retreat  has  heen  described  so  often  that  it  is  hardly 
necessary  to  rehearse  it  here.  Great  injustice  has  been 
done  the  Union  army  by  such  writers  as  "Bull  Run" 
Russell,  who  wrote  his  account  of  the  battle  for  the  Lon 
don  Times,  mainly  from  reports  received  from  stragglers. 
This  "famous"  correspondent  did  not  cross  Bull  Run 
during  the  engagement,  and  his  account  was  highly 
colored  by  what  he  did  not  see  of  the  battle,  and  by  the 
scraps  of  unreliable  information  extracted  from  the 
frightened  and  fugitive  soldiers  and  teamsters.  Russell 
himself  made  better  "time"  to  Washington  than  most 
of  the  stragglers. 

While  it  is  true  that  our  army  was  defeated  in  fair 
battle,  it  is  not  true  that  the  army  was  panic  stricken. 
Of  the  troops  which  crossed  Bull  Run,  Bumside's  brigade 
had  not  been  engaged  in  the  battle  of  the  afternoon,  and 
while  it  had  suffered  in  the  morning,  was  now  in  as  good 
order  as  when  it  entered  the  field,  and  Keyes'  brigade  was 
intact.  Schenck's  brigade  was  in  good  order  ;  Richard 
son's  brigade  had  not  crossed  the  Run  ;  Miles'  brigade 
and  Bleiickers  were  at  Centreville,  and  other  organiza 
tions  were  in  such  good  condition  that  the  enemy  found 
it  impossible  to  do  more  than  pick  up  straggling  parties 
and  individuals.  The  troops  generally  left  the  field  by 
the  same  route  they  had  entered  it,  and  when  ' '  Jeb " 
Stuart  was  ordered  to  pursue  the  column  that  had  retired 
by  way  of  Sudley  Ford,  he  found  the  force  so  well  pre 
pared  to  resist  his  assault  that  he  could  only  hang  on  its 
rear  and  pick  up  the  wounded  and  stragglers.  Col.  Rad- 
ford,  who  was  sent  after  our  brigade,  had  no  better  luck, 
and  when  he  reached  the  vicinity  of  Centreville  at  night 
fall,  found  the  brigades  of  Blencker,  Richardson  and  Davis 
ready  to  receive  him.  General  Beauregard  says  (Century 
Magazine,  November,  1884):  "Major  Sykes's  regulars, 


4-t  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

aided  by  Sherman's  brigade,  made  a  steady  and  hand 
some  withdrawal,  protecting  the  rear  of  the  routed  forces, 
and  enabling  many  to  escape."  Take  out  of  the  account 
stragglers,  teamsters,  war  correspondents  and  Congress 
men,  and  there  was  no  panic,  although  we  were  all  more 
or  less  demoralized  by  the  defeat. 

Considerable  astonishment  as  well  as  amusement  was 
caused  by  the  presence  in  our  retreating  ranks  of  a  solitary 
prisoner,  who  plodded  along  with  us  and  entertained  us  by 
his  quaint  remarks.  His  uniform  attracted  our  atten 
tion  ;  a  Zouave  cap  of  red,  and  jacket  of  blue,  with  baggy 
trousers  made  of  blue  and  white  striped  material,  and 
white  leggings,  gave  him  a  rather  rakish  appearance  ;  he 
announced  himself  as  a  member  of  the  Louisiana  Tiger 
battalion,  Major  Wheat  commanding.  This  particular 
" Tiger"  seemed  to  be  of  a  very  mild  disposition,  and 
took  his  captivity  in  good  part ;  he  was  "glad  the  Yan 
kees  were  whipped,"  and  was  sure  our  defeat  and  his 
side's  victory  ' '  would  result  in  the  establishment  of  the 
independence  of  the  Southern  Confederacy."  In  the 
confusion  of  crossing  Cub  Eun,  however,  our  prisoner 
disappeared  ;  he  no  doubt  rejoined  his  friends  and  regaled 
them  with  his  experience  while  a  prisoner  in  the  hands 
of  the  Yankees.  Our  brigade  re-crossed  Bull  Eun  at  Farm 
Ford,  and  it  was  not  until  we  gained  the  turnpike  that 
any  signs  of  a  panic  were  visible.  Along  this  road  team 
sters  were  lashing  their  horses  and  mules,  and  when,  a 
few  minutes  after  we  entered  the  road,  a  body  of  rebel 
cavalry  dashed  down  on  our  rear  from  the  direction  of 
the  Stone  Bridge,  they  caused  a  scattering  of  the  men, 
who  jumped  over  the  fences  and  ran  into  the  woods.  A 
well  directed  volley  or  two,  however,  from  a  regiment 
that  appeared  to  be  in  good  order,  drove  the  enemy  back, 
and  those  who  had  fled  to  the  cover  of  the  woods  returned 
to  the  road. 

But  the  enemy  soon  brought  their  artillery  to  bear  on 


1 86 1.  CAVALRY   IN  THE   REAR  !  45 

the  road,  and  as  the  shells  began  to  drop  about  us  or  burst 
over  our  heads  the  excitement  increased.  At  the  bridge 
over  Cub  Run  a  blockade  existed.  A  wagon  had  broken 
down  right  in  the  centre  of  the  roadway  on  the  bridge, 
and  there  not  being  sufficient  room  for  others  to  pass  on 
either  side,  the  teamsters  as  they  approached  jumped  off 
their  mules  or  horses,  cut  the  harness  and  galloped  off  on 
the  backs  of  the  animals,  leaving  their  wagons  to  still 
further  block  the  road.  A  number  of  guns  which  had 
been  brought  off  the  field  in  safety,  were  here  abandoned 
after  being  effectually  spiked. 

A  comrade  in  crossing  the  run — which  we  were  obliged 
to  wade  breast  deep — became  separated  from  the  regiment, 
and  did  not  rejoin  it  till  the  next  afternoon  at  Arlington 
Heights.  A  leaf  or  two  from  his  diary  will  give  a  fair 
sample  of  how  the  stragglers  reached  a  place  of  safety  : 
"In  the  confusion  of  crossing  Cub  Eun,  the  enemy's  shells 
bursting  over  the  bridge  and  scattering  their  fragments 
all  about  us,  I  became  separated  from  the  column,  and 
feeling  rather  tired  sat  down  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  to  rest ; 
while  sitting  there  a  member  of  my  own  company  came 
along,  and  we  agreed  to  travel  together  and  stand  by  each 
other  till  out  of  danger.  Two  other  soldiers,  strangers  to 
us,  hearing  our  conversation  asked  to  be  counted  in  the 
party,  and  we  consented.  After  dividing  our  ammuni 
tion,  which  gave  us  about  ten  rounds  each,  we  looked 
carefully  to  the  condition  of  our  muskets,  and  went  on 
our  way  paying  little  attention  to  the  frequent  cries  of 
'Cavalry  in  the  rear,'  raised  by  the  stragglers  who  con 
tinued  to  stream  past  us.  As  we  were  out  of  range  of 
the  rebel  shells  we  felt  quite  secure.  When  about  mid 
way  betweed  the  Eun  and  Centreville  the  cry  was  again 
raised — '  Look  out  !  Cavalry  in  the  rear.'  Even  then  we 
did  not  turn  round,  till  we  heard  the  tramp  of  horses  and 

the   command — '  Halt !    you  d d   Yankees,    or  we'll 

shoot  !'     Then  we  looked  back  and  realized  that  the  road- 


4C>  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

way  was  no  place  for  us.  The  stragglers  had  all  dis 
appeared,  and,  galloping  towards  us,  and  less  than  three 
hundred  yards  distant,  was  a  party  of  half  a  dozen  horse 
men.  We  had  arranged  a  '  plan  of  hattle '  to  meet  just 
such  an  emergency  ;  we  were  over  the  fence  on  the  north 
side  of  the  road  in  an  instant,  and  running  for  dear  life 
across  the  field  to  a  parallel  fence  about  one  hundred 
yards  distant.  We  deployed  as  we  ran  and  zig-zagged  as 
much  as  possible  to  disconcert  the  aim  of  our  pursuers,  who 
as  soon  as  they  saw  us  leave  the  road  began  firing  their  car 
bines.  We  felt  sure  of  being  able  to  get  over  the  second, 
which  was  a  stone  one,  before  the  horsemen  could  clear 
the  road  fence,  which  was  also  of  stone  with  rail  riders 
on  top.  As  we  glanced  hurriedly  back  we  could  see  that 
one  of  the  troopers  had  dismounted  to  take  off  the  rail  in 
order  that  the  horses  might  jump  over  the  stone  wall, 
this  was  our  salvation,  for  although  the  enemy  kept  up  a 
lively  fire  none  of  us  were  hit,  and  we  were  safe  behind 
the  wall  just  as  the  last  rider  had  entered  the  field. 
Kneeling  behind  our  protection  we  took  deliberate  aim, 
fired,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  two  of  our  pur 
suers  tumble  from  their  horses,  while  a  third  dropped  his 
carbine  and  would  have  fallen  had  he  not  been  held  on 
by  a  companion.  Without  waiting  for  us  to  reload  for 
another  volley,  they  turned  and  galloped  back  to  the  road. 
Not  thinking  it  prudent  to  remain  in  our  present 
position,  as  we  could  see  other  horsemen  galloping  along 
the  road,  we  struck  for  the  woods  and  kept  in  their  cover 
till  Centreville  was  reached.  It  was  just  nightfall  as  we 
entered  the  village  which  we  found  filled  with  soldiers, 
who  like  ourselves  had  lost  their  regiments.  Several 
brigades  were  in  position  across  the  turnpike,  ready  to 
repel  any  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  as  I  was  very  tired 
I  proposed  lying  down  for  an  hour  or  two's  sleep.  To 
this  my  companions  would  not  consent — 'No,  we  might 
be  captured,  we  do  n't  want  to  rest  till  we  get  to  Arling- 


1 86 1.  SAFE   AT   LAST  !  47 

ton  Heights/  So  they  left  me  and  I  lay  down  on  the 
porch  of  the  hotel  wrapped  snugly  in  my  blanket,  with 
my  trusty  musket  lying  at  my  side,  and  was  soon  fast 
asleep. 

About  midnight  I  was  awakened  by  some  one  rudely 
pulling  at  my  blanket  and  shouting  '  Turn  out  !  Get  up  ! 
the  '  rebs '  are  coming  and  you  must  fall  in  !'  I  was  still 
very  sleepy  but  managed  to  roll  up  my  blanket,  shoulder 
my  musket  and  step  into  the  road  which  was  filled  with 
men  in  regular  military  order.  The  night  was  very  dark, 
no  one  knew  his  neighbor,  and  as  our  progress  was  very 
slow,  I  frequently  fell  asleep  while  walking,  and  was  only 
awakened  by  bumping  against  the  man  in  front  of  me  as 
the  column  came  to  a  sudden  halt.  To  add  to  our  dis 
comfort  rain  began  to  fall  about  daylight,  and  many  of 
the  men  left  the  ranks  to  seek  short  cuts  to  the  various 
camps  they  had  left  when  starting  on  the  campaign. 
Staff  officers  were  stationed  at  the  various  cross  roads, 
who  directed  the  men  where  to  find  their  brigade  and 
division  headquarters.  The  rain  soon  wet  us  to  the  skin 
and  a  more  bedraggled,  demoralized  and  woe-begone  look 
ing  lot  of  men  I  never  saw  before  nor  since,  than  we  who 
plodded  along  through  mud  and  slush  towards  our  haven 
of  rest. 

About  noon,  and  just  as  I  had  gained  the  top  of  a 
slight  elevation  in  the  road,  and  had  begun  to  wonder 
whether  I  should  ever  reach  camp — I  w^as  so  tired — my 
eye  caught  sight  of  an  object  that  sent  the  blood  tingling 
through  my  whole  body  !  It  was  only  our  flag  floating 
above  one  of  the  outlying  forts,  but  I  realized  more  than 
ever  before  what  that  emblem  meant  to  me  !  k  Safe  at 
last !'  I  shouted  to  those  behind  me,  and  started  on  with 
renewed  vigor.  I  soon  found  myself  at  the  sally-port  of 
Foil  Albany,  garrisoned  by  the  Twenty-Fifth  regiment, 
N.  Y.  S.  M.  I  was  at  once  conducted  to  a  tent,  and 
regaled  with  a  bowl  of  good  vegetable  soup — I  remember 


4:8  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

yet  how  good  it  tasted — and  my  hosts  considerately 
refrained  from  plying  me  with  too  many  questions  until 
I  had  obtained  the  much  needed  rest.  I  was  told  to  '  lie 
down  and  make  yourself  comfortable  and  you  wo  n't  be 
disturbed.'  I  needed  no  second  invitation,  and  it  was 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  before  I  opened  my  eyes 
again.  After  relating  a  little  of  my  experience  to  my 
kind  hosts,  I  thanked  them  heartily  for  their  kindness, 
bade  them  adieu,  and  set  out  to  find  the  regiment.  On 
arriving  at  Camp  Weed,  I  found  a  few  men  assembled, 
but  the  tents  were  all  down,  and  what  baggage  was  left 
lay  scattered  about  soaking  in  the  rain.  Those  who  had 
remained  behind  to  guard  the  camp,  had  been  frightened 
by  the  reports  brought  in  by  those  who  had  arrived 
earliest,  and,  selecting  their  own  knapsacks  had  fled  over 
to  Washington— some  even  did  not  stop  retreating  till 
they  got  to  New  York.  A  party  of  us  now  tried  to  cross 
the  river,  but  found  guards  at  the  various  bridges  who 
allowed  no  one  to  cross  without  passes  from  army  head 
quarters,  so  we  returned  to  our  deserted  camp,  and  with 
out  supper  or  shelter  and  in  our  wet  clothing  lay  down 
for  the  night." 

According  to  the  authority  of  the  adjutants  general  of 
the  two  armies,  the  forces  engaged  in  the  battle  were  : 
Union  troops,  18,572  :  Confederate,  18,053. 

Colonel  Sherman  reported  the  losses  in  the  brigade  in 

killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  as  follows  : 

Battery  E,  2nd  U.  S.  Artillery,         ....          6 

E,  3rdU.  S.  ....  15 

2nd  Wisconsin,  Infantry,         .....       112 

13th  New  York,  58 

69th  .....       192 

79th          "  198 


Total,  .         581 

The  loss  in  the  First  brigade  was  only  223  and  in  the 


1 86 1.  JEFFERSON   DAVIS.  49 

Second  58.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  Highlanders  lost 
more  than  any  other  regiment  in  the  division,  and,  com 
paring  the  reports  of  the  other  divisions  of  the  army, 
more,  with  two  exceptions,  than  any  regiment  that  took 
part  in  the  battle.  The  total  Union  loss,  killed,  wounded 
and  prisoners,  was  2,952,  and  the  Confederates  reported 
a  loss  of  1,969. 

Jefferson  Davis,  who  reached  the  battlefield  at  the  close 
of  the  action,  says,  with  grim  humor  :  "  *  *  *  *  the 
signs  of  an  utter  rout  of  the  enemy  were  unmistakable, 
and  justified  the  conclusion  that  the  watchword  of  4  On 
to  Richmond  !'  had  been  changed  to  '  Off  for  Wash 
ington  !": 

It  has  been  charged  by  Confederate  officers  that  Davis 
prevented  the  pursuit  of  the  Union  army,  but  in  his  work, 
" Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Confederate  Government,"  (from 
which  the  above  comment  is  taken)  he  quotes  from  a. 
letter  written  by  General  Johnston,  in  reply  to  the  accu 
sation,  wherein  that  officer  attributes  the  failure  to  pur 
sue  us  to  the  true  cause,  already  described.  Johnston's 
words  are  :  "  The  pursuit  was  obstructed  by  the  enemy's 
troops  at  Centreville  as  I  have  stated  in  my  official 
report." 


50  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 


CHAPTER  IV. 

AFTER  BULL  RUN.— THE  MUTINY. 

Loss  in  Officers. — Captain  Laing's  "  Obituary." — Innes'  Narrative. — Captain 
Farrish's  Diary. — A  Comrade's  Experience  on  the  Field. — "  I  Want  to  Go 
Home." — Colonel  Sherman  Again. — Getting  over  the  Blues. — Visit  of  Presi 
dent  Lincoln. — Getting  "  even  "  with  Sherman. — Removal  to  Washington. — 
Camp  Ewen. — The  Sick,  Lame  and  Lazy. — The  Army  of  the  Potomac. — 
Causes  which  Led  to  the  Mutiny. — Colonel  Isaac  I.  Stevens. — Resignation  of 
Officers. — The  Men  Refuse  to  Obey  Orders. — Resignation  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Elliot. — The  Provost  Guard. — McClellan's  "  Order  No.  27." — Colonel 
Stevens'  Address. — The  so-called  "  Ring-leaders." — Cross  the  Eastern  Branch. 

the  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight  reported  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  in  the  late  battle,  eleven  were 
commissioned  officers.  Besides  Colonel  Cameron  and 
Captain  Brown,  who  were  killed,  Captains  Ellis,  Laing, 
Farrish  and  Shillinglaw  were  wounded,  the  two  latter  be 
ing  left  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Captain  Manson  and 
Lieutenants  White  and  Ives  were  also  captured,  while 
both  Surgeons,  Doctors  Norval  and  McLetchie,  who  had 
courageously  remained  behind  to  care  for  the  wounded, 
were  detained  as  prisoners.  Captain  Laing,  who  had 
been  severely  wounded,  had  the  pleasure,  while  in  the 
hospital  at  Washington,  of  reading  his  obituary  in  one 
of  the  New  York  papers. 

A  very  interesting  narrative  of  the  imprisonment  and 
attempts  to  escape,  of  four  men,  two  of  whom  were 
members  of  the  regiment,  James  B.  Haig  of  Company 
B,  and  John  W.  Innes  of  Company  E,  was  written  and 
published  by  the  latter  in  1863. 


i86i.  FELT   DREADFULLY   AFRAID.  51 

As  to  the  disposition  of  some  of  the  captured  officers, 
Captain  Farrish  writes  :  "We  were  taken  to  Richmond 
and  placed  in  the  tobacco  factory  on  Main  street,  kept 
there  two  months,  then  sent  to  Charleston,  where  we 
were  put  into  the  common  jail  and  confined  for  six 
weeks  ;  then  transferred  to  Castle  Pinckney  for  two 
months  ;  sent  hack  to  Charleston  jail  for  six  weeks  ; 
thence  to  Columbia  for  two  months,  and  finally  to  Rich 
mond  again,  where  two  months  were  spent  in  the  famous 
Libby  Prison.  We  were  the  first  lot  of  prisoners  con 
fined  in  that  hole.'1 

First  experience  on  the  battle  field  is  well  illustrated  by 
the  following  reply  made  by  a  comrade  to  the  question 
' '  How  did  you  feel  during  the  assault  on  the  Henry  hill  ?" 

k  4 1  can  hardly  tell.  The  experience  was  so  novel  that 
I  didn't  seem  to  realize  anything  definitely.  As  I  try 
now  to  recall  the  scene,  all  seems  shrouded  as  by  a  mist. 
I  remember,  however,  that  I  felt  dreadfully  afraid,  while 
we  were  marching  down  the  Sudley  road,  that  I  might 
be  killed,  or,  what  seemed  worse  even,  badly  wounded, 
and  left  on  the  field  to  be  trampled  to  death  by  horses,  or 
crushed  by  battery  caissons  or  gun  carriages.  As  I  saw 
one  after  another  fall,  and  heard  their  cries  and  groans,  I 
wished  I  was  somewhere  else,  and  if  it  hadn't  been  for 
fear  of  being  called  a  coward,  I  think  I  would  have  run 
away  ;  but  when  we  were  ordered  into  line,  and  had 
begun  the  advance  up  the  hill,  cheering  each  other  and 
firing  at  the  enemy,  all  feelings  of  fear  vanished  ;  I 
seemed  to  forget  myself  entirely  and  had  no  fear  what 
ever  about  my  personal  safety.  When  I  saw  men  in  front 
of  me  fall,  and  those  on  either  side  wounded  or  killed, 
and  heard  the  cries  of  those  behind  me  as  they  were 
brought  down,  I  fully  expected  to  be  hit  myself,  but  that 
conviction  did  not  unnerve  me.  As  we  pressed  on  up  the 
hill-side,  and  men  were  still  falling  all  about  us,  I  remem 
ber  wondering  why  I  wasn't  hit.  I  seemed  to  have  a 


52  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

dual  being— as  though  my  soul  and  body  were  two  dis 
tinct  persons.  k  Why  are  you  not  hit  ?'  occurred  to  me 
frequently,  and  as  I  heard  the  bullets  whizzing  past  my 
head  with  that  peculiar  sound  which  I  shall  never  forget, 
and  heard  the  sickening  '  thud '  as  some  of  them  entered 
the  bodies  of  comrades,  while  shells  were  bursting  over 
head  and  their  fragments  were  being  scattered  about  us, 
and  still  found  myself  unharmed,  I  seemed  to  realize  that 
I  was  not  to  be  a  victim  that  day,  and  the  conviction 
made  me  feel  perfectly  calm. 

"On  the  retreat  down  the  hill,  I  remember  hearing 
a  regular  volley  fired  after  us,  and  on  looking  across 
Young's  Branch  I  saw  little  puffs  of  dust  raised  on  the 
opposite  hill  as  the  bullets  struck  the  ground  ;  most  of 
the  men  were  hurrying  in  that  direction  ;  I  realized  that 
those  bullets  were  all  passing  over  my  head,  and  that  if  I 
proceeded  in  that  direction  I  would  soon  be  in  range,  so 
I  paused  a  few  moments  till  the  firing  ceased,  and  then 
kept  011  my  way.  I  was  all  alone  part  of  the  time,  and 
until  I  gained  the  hill  where  our  men  were  being  rallied, 
I  did  not  fully  come  to  myself." 

On  Tuesday  morning  a  cold,  drizzling  rain  was  still 
falling.  Several  more  of  our  officers  appeared,  who  set 
about  looking  up  the  men  of  their  companies  ;  but  when 
we  asked  for  tents  and  rations,  they  seemed  at  as  great  a 
loss  as  the  men  themselves  what  to  do  or  where  to  go. 
We  had  no  food,  except  what  was  obtained  by  begging 
from  the  garrisons  of  the  forts  in  the  vicinity.  During 
the  forenoon  a  few  of  us  had  gathered  in  a  barn  near  by, 
where  w^e  sat,  nursing  our  woes  ;  "I  want  to  go  home," 
was  pictured  on  every  countenance.  Colonel  Sherman, 
accompanied  by  two  or  three  members  of  his  staff,  came 
in  while  we  were  talking,  and  in  what  appeared  to  us  a 
gruff  and  unsympathetic  tone,  wanted  to  know  what  we 
were  doing  there.  kt  Keeping  out  of  the  rain,"  was  the 
reply  ;  "  we  have  no  tents,  and  few  of  us  have  blankets, 


i86i.  KEEP   UP   A   GOOD   HEART.  53 

and  we  have  nothing  to  eat."  "  Well,  you  had  better  go 
down  into  the  woods  and  build  bush  huts  ;  I  want  to  put 
my  horses  in  here."  We  were  in  no  condition  to  remon 
strate — audibly — but  had  our  opinion  of  an  officer  who 
would  turn  men  out  of  shelter  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
it  to  dumb  brutes.  Colonel  Sherman's  object  was  no 
doubt  a  good  one ;  he  knew  that  brooding  over  our 
troubles  would  do  us  more  harm  than  good,  and  that  if 
we  busied  ourselves  in  making  our  condition  better  we 
would  more  speedily  get  over  our  fit  of  the  "blues." 
True,  the  Colonel  might  have  advised  us  in  a  more  kindly 
manner — it  would  have  cost  him  nothing — but  the  milk 
of  human  kindness  was  rather  deficient  at  that  time  in 
the  future  General-in-Chief  of  the  army.  We  left  the 
barn  and  soon  after  formed  a  temporary  camp,  a  few 
tents  having  been  procured  as  well  as  some  rations. 

On  the  23d  we  moved  to  a  more  eligible  situation,  and 
in  the  afternoon  were  honored  by  a  visit  from  the  Presi 
dent;  as  his  carriage  drove  up  we  noticed  Colonel  Sher 
man  occupying  a  seat  by  his  side.  There  was  no  formal 
reception  given  the  President;  he  merely  drove  through 
the  camp,  and  as  he  stopped  before  each  regiment  the 
men  gathered  round  his  carriage  and  listened  to  a  few 
words  of  sympathy  and  encouragement.  "Now  boys, 
keep  up  a  good  heart,  and  all  will  yet  be  well,"  was  his 
concluding  sentence,  and  as  he  motioned  the  driver  to  go 
on,  one  of  our  men,  who  thought  it  would  be  a  good 
opportunity  to  "get  even"  with  Colonel  Sherman,  said: 
"Mr.  President,  we  don't  think  Colonel  Sherman  has 
treated  us  very  well,"  and  then  continued  with  the  inci 
dent  that  occurred  in  the  barn.  Lincoln  listened  patiently 
till  the  story  was  ended,  and  then,  half  turning  towards 
Sherman,  who  sat  like  a  statue  during  the  recital,  said, 
as  he  turned  to  us  again  :  "Well,  boys,  I  have  a  great 
deal  of  respect  for  Colonel  Sherman,  and  if  he  turned  you 
out  of  the  barn  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  for  some  good 


54  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

purpose;  I  presume  he  thought  you  would  feel  better  if 
you  went  to  work  and  tried  to  forget  your  troubles;"  and 
with  a  bow  and  wave  of  the  hand  he  told  the  driver  to 
go  on  to  the  next  camp.  It  was  wonderful  how  much 
good  that  thoughtful  visit  of  the  President  worked  in  the 
minds  of  the  men;  in  the  grave,  serious,  yet  kindly  face 
of  Lincoln  we  each  saw  a  sympathizing  friend,  and  our 
burdens  became  lighter  as  we  reflected  on  the  terrible 
load  the  Chief  Magistrate  was  carrying  in  his  own  heart. 

By  morning  of  the  2-tth  many  more  stragglers  had 
reached  camp,  and  when  in  the  afternoon  we  were  ordered 
to  Washington,  about  five  hundred  men  were  in  line. 

We  marched  over  the  canal  bridge,  through  Georgetown 
and  into  Washington,  where  quarters  had  been  assigned 
us  in  some  dwelling  houses  on  Massachusetts  avenue  near 
Seventh  street.  The  neighbors  were  very  kind,  treating 
us  to  many  little  delicacies  that  were  duly  appreciated. 
Our  stay  here  was  brief,  for  on  the  26th  we  moved  to  a 
camp  ground  on  the  east  end  of  the  range  called  Meridian 
Hill,  at  the  head  of  Tenth  street,  which  was  named  Camp 
Ewen,  in  honor  of  General  Eweii  of  New  York. 

It  was  curious  to  note  how  many  cases  of  chronic  disease 
were  now  developed  among  the  men.  Many  who  had  been 
perfectly  healthy  when  the  recruiting  fever  was  at  its 
height,  and  in  fact  up  to  the  very  day  of  battle,  were  now 
troubled  with  rheumatism,  chronic  diarrhoea,  varicose 
veins,  piles,  asthma,  palpitation  of  the  heart,  near-sight 
edness,  loss  of  front  teeth,  etc.,  etc.  Some  had  "large 
families  of  small  children  "  at  home  who  needed  the  sup 
port  of  the  head  of  the  family.  Many  of  the  officers,  too, 
found  their  private  business  so  pressing  as  to  need  their 
immediate  and  personal  attention.  They  were  not  tired 
of  the  war,  nor  afraid  of  another  battle;  Oh,  no!  For 
hadn't  they  urged  the  men  to  enlist,  assuring  them  that 
they  would  always  look  well  after  their  comfort  in  the 
field?  and  hadn't  they  declared,  before  leaving  New  York, 


i86i.  WHAT   A   TRANSFORMATION.  55 

that  they  would  stick  by  the  regiment  as  long  as  it 
remained  in  the  field?  They  merely  wished  to  go  home 
for  a  while  to  straighten  out  their  business,  and  would 
soon  return.  But,  instead  of  applying  for  furloughs,  quite 
a  number  handed  in  their  resignations,  which  for  the  good 
of  the  service  were  promptly  accepted,  and  the  valiant 
heroes  of  (much  less  than) '  'a  hundred  battles"  went  home. 

A  few  of  the  enlisted  men  received  "honorable"  dis 
charges.  One  instance  is  recalled  of  a  corporal  who  had 
applied  for  his  discharge,  on  the  ground  that  he  was 
afflicted  with  chronic  piles.  While  waiting,  day  after 
day,  for  the  expected  release,  he  would  spend  hours  at  a 
time  sitting  on  the  damp  ground,  hardly  able  to  move, 
apparently,  and  when  he  did  attempt  to  walk,  hobbling 
along  as  though  in  perfect  agony.  His  case  really  excit 
ed  our  pity,  but  when,  one  day,  his  long-looked-for  dis 
charge  arrived,  what  a  transformation  took  place  !  No 
one  would  have  believed  that  an  official  document  could 
have  worked  such  an  instantaneous  and  radical  cure  ! 
The  man  leaped  and  danced  about  as  he  gathered  his 
things  together,  and  when  he  started  to  walk  to  the 
depot  it  would  have  taken  a  pretty  healthy  man  to  keep 
pace  with  him.  When  it  was  found  that  no  more  dis 
charges  would  be  granted,  the  disappointed  applicants 
made  a  virtue  of  necessity,  and  the  regiment  soon  settled 
down  to  the  regular  camp  duties  of  drill,  dress  parades 
and  guard  mount. 

On  the  27th,  when  Major- General  George  B.  McClellan 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  army  in  the  field,  the 
number  of  troops  in  and  about  the  city  was  less  than 
52,0.00  men  of  aU  arms  and  with  them  about  thirty  field 
guns.  McClellan  says  :  "  In  no  quarter  were  the  dispo 
sitions  for  defence  such  as  to  offer  a  vigorous  resistance 
to  a  respectable  body  of  the  enemy,  either  in  the  position 
and  numbers  of  the  troops  or  the  number  and  character 
of  the  defensive  works." 


5(>  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

But  new  regiments  were  constantly  arriving,  and  on 
the  15th  of  October  we  find  that  at  Washington  and 
vicinity,  including  Baltimore,  there  were  "present  for 
duty"  133,201.  The  sick,  those  in  confinement  and 
*;  absent,  with  leave,"  brought  the  grand  aggregate  up  to 
152,051. 

We  now  approach  a  very  unpleasant  part  of  the  his 
tory  of  the  regiment,  a  part  the  inside  history  of  which 
still  remains  a  mystery  to  the  survivors.  As  near  as  can 
be  ascertained  from  documentary  evidence  and  the  recol 
lections  of  those  now  living,  the  facts  are  as  follows  : 
Owing  to  the  heavy  loss  sustained  by  the  regiment  at 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  the  resignation  of  a  number 
of  our  officers  and  the  discharge  of  men  after  that  event, 
it  seemed  to  many  who  remained  in  the  field  that  while 
the  army  was  being  reorganized  for  another  campaign, 
the  Highlanders  might  be  allowed  to  go  to  New  York, 
for  the  purpose  of  more  rapidly  filling  up  its  depleted 
ranks,  electing  new  officers  to  fill  the  vacancies,  and 
thus  be  enabled  to  take  the  field  again,  when  the  time 
should  arrive,  with  full  ranks. 

It  was  thought  that  inasmuch  as  our  late  Colonel  was 
a  brother  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  it  would  not  be  diffi 
cult  to  obtain  this  permission,  the  Secretary  having,  at 
various  times,  both  before  and  after  the  battle,  expressed 
himself  in  very  friendly  terms  towards  the  regiment,  and 
promised  to  do  anything  for  us  that  lay  in  his  power. 
Actuated  by  a  desire  to  do  what  was  for  the  best  good  of 
the  regiment,  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Major,  with 
the  remaining  line  officers,  seventeen  in  all,  united  in  a 
petition  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  representing  the  above 
facts,  and  requesting  that  the  regiment  be  allowed  to 
proceed  to  New  York  for  the  purpose  named.  This  was 
also  signed  by  a  long  list  of  non-commissioned  officers. 
It  appears  that  the  petition  was  forwarded  first  to  Major- 
General  Sanford,  commanding  the  division  of  New  York 


i86i. 


COLONEL   STEVENS.  57 


State  Militia,  of  which  the  Seventy-Ninth  had  formed  a 
part,  and  who  was  in  Washington  at  the  time;  it  was 
endorsed  by  him  and  also  by  the  engineer  department  of 
the  army,  with  the  suggestion  of  several  forts,  either  one 
of  which  might  be  used  as  quarters  for  the  regiment. 
In  due  course  the  petition  reached  the  Secretary,  who 
endorsed  on  the  back  of  it  the  following: 

"The  Secretary  of  War  believes  that,  in  consideration 
of  the  gallant  services  of  the  Seventy-Ninth  Regiment  of 
New  York  Volunteers,  and  of  their  losses  in  battle,  and 
afterwards  by  wounds  received  in  two  (sic)  hard  fought 
battles,  they  are  entitled  to  the  special  consideration  of 
their  country;  and  he  also  orders  that  the  regiment  be 
sent  to  some  one  of  the  forts  in  the  Bay  of  New  York,  to 
fill  up  the  regiment  by  recruits,  as  soon  as  Colonel  Ste 
vens  returns  to  the  command. 

(Signed)  SIMON  CAMERON, 

Secretary  of  War." 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  above  endorsement  bears 
110  date,  nor  is  any  date  given  for  the  removal,  the  Sec 
retary  evidently  leaving  the  details  to  be  carried  out  by 
the  proper  military  authorities,  or  by  "Colonel  Stevens." 
Next  in  order  we  have  the  following: 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  August  1st,  1861. 

"Lieutenant  Colonel  Elliot,  of  the  Seventy -Ninth 
Regiment,  is  directed  to  repair  to  New  York,  under  the 
direction  of  Colonel  Stevens,  and  to  fill  up  by  recruits  the 
loss  of  the  regiment  by  death  and  wounds,  and  also  to 
procure  the  necessary  clothing  and  equipments  for  the 
men,  under  the  direction  of  the  Quartermaster-General. 
(Signed)  SIMON  CAMERON, 

Secretary  of  War." 

The  execution  of  both  the  above  "orders,"  it  will  be 
noticed,  is  made  contingent  on  the  return  of  Colonel 
Stevens  to  the  command.  Neither  of  them  was  ever 
Tead  to  the  regiment,  for  we  never  heard  of  "Colonel 


58  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  August,. 

Stevens"  till  several  days  afterwards,  and  the  second 
order  would  seem  to  supersede  the  first,  and  in  it  no 
mention  is  made  of  the  return  of  the  regiment  at  all;  it 
is  Lieutenant-Colonel  Elliot,  alone,  who  is  to  go  to  New 
York. 

Whether  or  not  Lieutenant-Colonel  Elliot  ever  issued 
an  order  and  had  it  read  before  the  regiment,  directing 
them  to  prepare  for  going  to  New  York,  is  a  mooted 
question;  quite  recently  the  writer  has  heard  some  com 
rades  say  that  they  distinctly  remember  that  he  did, 
while  others  said  he  did  not;  the  writer  is  in  doubt. 
This  much  is  certain,  however,  that  whether  by  regi 
mental  orders  or  verbal  instructions  from  company  com 
manders,  we  were  notified  to  prepare  ourselves  for  the 
trip.  It  is  possible  that  Elliot  issued  his  instructions  just 
after  he  learned  of  the  "endorsement"  of  the  petition  by 
the  Secretary,  and  before  he  received  the  order  of  Aug. 
1st.  It  is  also  possible  that  he  may  have  misconstrued 
the  order,  and  thought  that  it  included  the  regiment  as 
well  as  himself;  but  the  exact  truth  will  probably  never 
be  known.  The  men  were  certainly  kept  in  ignorance 
of  everything  except  that  they  were  ordered  to  prepare 
for  the  journey. 

Next  in  sequence  we  have  the  following  : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  FIRST  DIVISION,  N.  Y.  S.  M, 

Washington,  Aug.  7th,  1861. 
"  SPECIAL  ORDER  : 

"  A  vacancy  having  occurred  in  the  command  of  the 
Seventy-Ninth  Eegiment,  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  by  the  death  of 
the  late  lamented  Colonel  Cameron,  who  was  killed  while 
gallantly  leading  his  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Elliot,  of  said  regiment  is  directed  to 
convene  the  commissioned  officers  thereof  by  a  notice  of 
five  days,  to  attend  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  electing 
a  Colonel  and  to  fill  any  other  vacancies  in  the  field  of 


1 86 1.  BEGAN   TO   WONDER.  59 

said  regiment.     Colonel  Morrill,  Division  Inspector,  will 
preside  at  said  meeting  and  make  due  return  thereof. 
By  order  of 

Major  General  CHARLES  W.  SANDFORD." 

This  order  was  communicated  to  the  officers  of  the 
regiment,  accompanied  by  the  following  : 

"Washington,  August  7th,  1861. 

"  SIR — Pursuant  to  the  foregoing  division  order  you  are 
hereby  notified  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  commissioned 
officers  of  the  Seventy-Ninth  Eegiment,  N.  Y.  S.  M.  at 
the  headquarters  of  the  regiment  at  Camp  Eweii,  Wash 
ington,  on  the  13th  day  of  August,  at  four  o'clock  p.  M., 
for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  Colonel  of  said  regiment  and 
to  fill  any  vacancies  in  the  field  thereof. 
Yours,  &c., 

SAMUEL  M.  ELLIOT, 

Lieut.  Col.  Commanding." 

When  the  men  became  aware  of  these  last  orders,  they 
began  to  wonder  what  it  all  meant  ;  from  day  to  day,  in 
answer  to  questions,  they  were  told  by  their  officers— 
who,  however,  appeared  as  much  in  the  dark  as  the  men 
—that  orders  were  expected  any  hour  to  proceed  to  New 
York  ;  we  had  been  told  several  days  before  to  advise  our 
friends  at  home  not  to  write  any  more  letters,  but  it 
began  to  look  as  though  we  were  to  be  kept  in  the  field. 
All  remained  quiet,  however,  till  the  10th,  when  Colonel 
Stevens  arrived,  and  at  dress  parade  on  that  evening  the 
order  given  below  was  read  : 

"CAMP  EWEN,  August  10th,  1861. 

"The  undersigned,  in  pursuance  of  orders  from  the 
War  Department,  hereby  assumes  command  of  the  79th 
Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  M.  He  will  devote  himself  earnestly, 
and  trusts  that  its  high  reputation  gained  by  honorable 
service  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  will  not  suffer  at  his 
hands.  He  doubts  not  that  zeal,  fidelity,  and  soldierly 


60  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

bearing,  will  continue  to  characterize  every  member  of 
the  regiment.  ISAAC  I.  STEVENS,  Colonel." 

On  receipt  of  this  order,  the  Major,  senior  captain  and 
four  lieutenants  resigned,  leaving  only  about  ten  officers 
with  the  regiment. 

How  we  are  to  account  for  the  calling  of  a  meeting  of 
the  officers  to  elect  a  Colonel  on  the  13th,  when  the  Sec 
retary  of  War  in  his  order  of  the  1st  alluded  to  one  as 
having  been  already  appointed,  and  that  officer  appearing 
on  the  10th,  and  assuming  command,  is  past  finding  out. 
Perhaps  the  "slate"  had  been  prepared  by  the  higher 
powers,  and  the  officers  were  expected  to  go  through  the 
farce  of  an  election  ;  if  so  the  denouement  was  precipi 
tated. 

Not  to  be  outdone  in  the  condemnation  of  what  was  con 
sidered  a  piece  of  high-handed  interference  on  the  part  of 
the  government,  and  to  uphold  the  rights  of  the  "  Militia  " 
system  of  filling  vacancies,  many  of  the  non-commis 
sioned  officers  and  privates  pledged  themselves  that  they 
would  accept  of  no  office  whatever  unless  elected  thereto 
by  the  votes  of  their  comrades.  The  men  were  very 
"fresh"  in  those  days,  and  had  not  yet  realized  that 
troops  in  the  field  must  necessarilly  be  governed  by  more 
arbitrary  rules  than  when  "playing"  soldiers  at  home. 
This  decision  of  the  men  kept  many  of  our  best  soldiers 
in  the  ranks  and  in  subordinate  positions  for  over  a  year, 
and  allowed  those  who  refused  to  sign  the  compact  to  be 
placed  over  their  heads. 

During  the  height  of  this  excitement,  Robertson's  Band 
gave  a  fine  instrumental  concert  in  the  Washington 
Theatre,  for  the  benefit  of  the  widows  and  orphans  of 
those  who  fell  at  Bull  Run  ;  the  house  was  packed  on  the 
night  of  the  7th,  when  the  concert  took  place,  and  a 
handsome  amount  was  raised  for  the  worthy  object. 

The  excitement  grew  from  day  to  day,  Colonel  Stevens 


1 86 1.  NO,    SIR!  01 

seemingly  unaware  of  the  true  condition  of  affairs.  The 
climax  was  reached  however  on  the  13th,  when  the  fol 
lowing  order  was  read  at  dress  parade  : 

' i  HEADQUARTERS  TDTH  REGIMENT,  N.  Y.  S.  M. 

4'  Camp  Ewen,  August  13th,  1861. 
BORDER  No.  i2  : 

' '  The  regiment  will  move  camp  to-morrow  morning. 
Eoll  will  be  called  at  four  o'clock,  tents  struck  and  bag 
gage  arranged  for  wagons  immediately  afterward. 
Wagons  will  be  loaded  at  five  o'clock,  and  the  regiment 
will  be  in  motion  at  six.  Chiefs  of  departments  and  cap 
tains  of  companies  will  have  everything  in  readiness  for 
the  execution  of  this  order  ;  one  day's  rations  will  be 
cooked  to-day  for  use  to-morrow,  and  special  attention 
will  be  given  that  the  same  be  placed  in  the  haversacks 
and  not  be  wasted  by  the  men. 
By  Order  of 

COLONEL  STEVENS." 

The  men  now  believed  that  somebody  had  been  .playing 
fast  and  loose  with  them  ;  the  order  to  move  showed 
plainly  that  they  were  not  to  go  to  New  York.  That 
evening  many  of  the  men  went  into  the  city,  some  of 
whom  returned  late  at  night  in  a  drunken  condition  ; 
whiskey  was  also  smuggled  into  camp  and  before  morn 
ing  those  in  the  habit  of  imbibing  were  in  a  fit  condition 
to  get  all  into  trouble. 

The  eventful  morning  of  the  14th  at  length  arrived, 
and  after  an  early  breakfast  the  men  were  ordered  by  the 
company  officers  to  strike  tents  ;  only  two  companies 
however,  I  and  K,  obeyed  the  order,  the  others  flatly 
refusing.  Colonel  Stevens  then  visited  the  refractory 
companies  in  turn,  and  stood  facing  the  men,  while  the 
orderly  sergeants  passed  along  the  line  and  put  the  ques 
tion  to  each  individual—  "  Will  you  obey  orders  and  strike 
tents  ?"  And  the  reply  was  the  same  from  each—  '  No 
sir  !"  They  were  determined  to  know  why,  after  having 


62  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

received  orders  to  prepare  for  going  to  New  York,  they 
still  remained  at  Washington.  It  was  understood  that 
we  were  ordered  to  join  General  Sickles'  brigade  and 
when  that  officer  appeared  in  camp  in  the  forenoon,  he 
was  received  by  jeers  and  hisses  from  the  men.  His 
domestic  relations  had  recently  been  made  a  matter  of 
notoriety,  and  the  men  were  much  opposed  to  serving 
under  him  ;  this  added  to  the  trouble. 

On  the  refusal  of  the  men  to  strike  tents,  the  officers 
attempted  to  do  so,  but  were  prevented  by  the  men,  and 
one  or  two  of  them  rather  roughly  handled.  Colonel 
Stevens  now  enquired  of  the  men  why  they  refused  to 
obey  his  orders,  and  their  version  of  the  trouble  was  given 
him.  As  the  story  goes — for  it  was  never  known  to  any 
but  the  two  officers,  just  what  occurred  at  the  interview 
—Elliot  attempted  to  explain  his  action,  but  the  explana 
tion  did  not  satisfy  the  Colonel,  and  the  junior  officer  was 
given  just  half  an  hour  in  which  to  hand  in  his  resigna 
tion  or  stand  a  court  martial.  Elliot  resigned.  Stevens 
now  communicated  the  state  of  affairs  to  his  immediate 
superior,  General  Sickels,  who  in  turn  informed  General 
McClellan,  the  result  of  which  was  the  issuance  of  the 
following  order  : 

61  HEADQUARTERS,  DIVISION  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 

"Washington,  August  14th,  1861. 
"SPECIAL  ORDER  No.  27  : 

u  The  commanding  General  of  the  Division  learns  with 
much  pain  that  decided  insubordination,  if  not  open 
mutiny,  has  been  displayed  by  a  large  portion  of  the  79th 
Highlanders,  New  York  Volunteers.  The  General  com 
manding  does  not  desire  at  this  time  to  enter  into  any 
statement  of  the  alleged  grievances  of  this  regiment,  fur 
ther  than  to  say  that  they  are  frivolous  and  unfounded. 
This  conduct  is  disgraceful  in  the  extreme,  both  as  sol 
diers  and  citizens,  to  all  concerned  in  it.  Those  who  have 
participated  in  this  shameful  affair  have  utterly  disgraced 


i86i.  DEPRIVED   OF   ITS   COLORS.  63 

themselves  ;  they  are  unworthy  the  sympathy  of  their 
fellow-soldiers,  and  in  acting  such  a  part  at  a  moment 
when  the  services  of  every  true  man  are  required  by  the 
nation,  they  have  rendered  themselves  liable  to  suspicion 
that  motives  of  the  basest  cowardice  have  controlled  their 
conduct. 

This  regiment  has  chosen  to  make  the  issue,  and  the 
commanding  General  is  prepared  to  meet  it.  The  regi 
ment  is  ordered  to  return  at  once  to  its  duty.  All  mem 
bers  of  the  regiment,  whether  officers  or  privates,  who 
do  not  forthwith  on  this  order  being  read  to  them  return 
to  their  duty,  will  be  required  to  lay  down,  their  arms  and 
will  be  placed  under  arrest ;  and  refusing  to  do  so  they 
will  be  fired  upon.  Of  those  who  obey  the  order  and 
return  to  their  duty,  the  mutinous  ringleaders  alone  will 
be  punished. 

The  regiment  will  be  deprived  of  its  colors,  which  will 
not  be  returned  to  it  until  its  members  have  shown  by 
their  conduct  in  camp,  that  they  have  learned  the  first 
duty  of  soldiers — obedience — and  have  proven  on  the  field 
of  battle  that  they  are  not  wanting  in  courage. 

A  copy  of  this  order,  with  the  names  of  all  officers  and 
men  implicated,  will  be  sent  to  the  Governor  of  New 
York  to  be  filed  among  the  state  archives. 

GEORGE  B.  MCCLELLAX, 

[OFFICIAL.]  Major  General  Commanding. 

S.  WILLIAMS, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General.'' 

From  McClellan's  standpoint  the  severity  of  his  lan 
guage  was  110  doubt  fully  justified,  and  yet  the  word, 
"cowardice,"  and  the  assumption  that  they  lacked  cour 
age,  could  hardly  apply  to  a  regiment  that  had  lost  fully 
twenty-five  per  cent,  of  the  men  in  its  ranks  at  the  battle 
of  Bull  Eun.  But  as  disturbances  had  occurred  in  other 
organizations,  the  General  wished  to  "make  an  example," 


64  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

and  the  order  was  no  doubt  read  at  the  head  of  every 
regiment  in  the  army.  At  the  same  time  the  following 
order  was  sent  to  the  Provost  Marshal  : 

"  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  ANDREW  PORTER, 
Provost  Marshal,  &c., 

Washington,  D.  C. 

"GENERAL. — The  brigade  commander  of  the  Seventy- 
Ninth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  having  reported 
that  the  regiment  is  in  a  state  of  open  mutiny,  Major 
General  McClellan  directs  that  you  proceed  with  a  battery, 
the  two  companies  of  the  Second  Cavalry,  at  the  Park 
Hotel,  and  as  many  companies  of  regular  infantry  as  you 
may  deem  proper,  to  the  encampment  of  that  regiment. 
On  your  arrival  there,  you  will  order  such  as  are  willing 
to  move  to  march  out  of  the  camp,  leaving  the  disaffected 
portion  of  the  regiment  by  themselves.  You  will  then 
order  the  latter  portion  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and  will 
put  them  under  a  strong  guard.  The  ringleaders  you 
will  put  in  double  irons. 

You  are  authorized,  if  necessary,  to  use  force  to  accom 
plish  the  object. 

Report  the  result  as  soon  as  possible. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 
A.  V.  COLBURN, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General." 

By  noon  it  became  noised  about  the  neighborhood  that 
there  was  trouble  in  the  camp  of  the  Seventy-Ninth,  and 
citizens  flocked  about  the  outskirts  of  the  ground,  most  of 
whom  sympathized  with  the  men.  Intoxicated  men  also 
came  up  from  Washington.  For  a  few  hours  it  seemed 
as  though  an  outbreak  would  occur;  and  had  it  not  been 
for  those  who  kept  sober  and  did  all  in  their  power  to  sub 
due  their  noisy  comrades,  no  doubt  bloodshed  would  have 
occurred. 

About  an  hour  before  dark,  General  Porter  appeared, 


1 86 1.  FALL  INTO   THE   RANKS  !  65 

followed  by  infantry,  artillery  and  cavalry,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  camp  was  completely  surrounded.  The  infan 
try  were  ordered  to  load,  the  cavalry  to  draw  sabres,  while 
the  artillery,  posted  011  the  hill  above  us,  placed  their  pieces 
in  battery  and  loaded  them  with  canister.  Visitors  were 
ordered  to  leave,  and  those  men  found  noisy  or  intoxica 
ted  promptly  arrested,  while  the  guard  received  orders 
to  shoot  down  any  soldier  attempting  to  pass  through  the 
lines. 

The  men  were  now  ordered  to  fall  in,  and,  when  most 
of  them  were  in  line,  Colonel  Stevens  addressed  us  in  sub 
stance  as  follows  :  * 4 1  know  you  have  been  deceived.  You 
have  been  told  that  you  were  to  go  to  your  homes,  when 
no  such  order  had  been  given.  You  are  soldiers,  and  your 
duty  is  to  obey.  I  am  your  Colonel,  and  your  obedience 
is  due  to  me.  You  do  not  know  me,  but  I  know  you.  I 
am  a  soldier  of  the  Regular  Army  of  the  United  States, 
and  am  used  to  danger.  I  have  spent  many  years  on  the 
frontiers  fighting  the  Indians.  I  have  been  surrounded 
by  the  enemy  and  cut  off  from  ah1  communication  with 
the  troops  to  which  I  was  attached,  while  those  red  devils 
were  fighting  for  my  scalp.  I  have  been  a  soldier  in  the 
war  w^ith  Mexico,  and  bear  honorable  wounds  received  in 
battle,  and  have  been  in  far  greater  danger  than  that  sur 
rounding  me  now.  Soldiers  of  the  Seventy-Ninth !  I  am 
your  Colonel!  And  again  I  say  you  must  obey  me !  Fall 
into  the  ranks!"  The  Colonel's  voice,  as  he  uttered  this 
last  command,  sounded  like  a  trumpet,  and  those  who 
had  held  back  stepped  into  line  at  once.  With  the  guns 
frowning  upon  them  the  men  realized  that  further  resist 
ance  would  be  useless.  Our  muskets  had  been  taken  from 
the  stacks  and  loaded  on  wagons,  for  transportation  to  the 
new  camp,  and  the  regiment,  guarded  on  both  flanks  by 
the  regulars,  was  now  marched  into  Fourteenth  street, 
and  when  drawn  up  in  line  McClellan's  order  No.  27  was 
read  ;  then  the  Provost  Marshal  repeated  the  orders 
5 


66  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

requiring  us  to  obey  the  commands  of  our  superior 
officers  or  suffer  the  consequences.  The  color  bearers 
were  ordered  to  step  to  the  front,  and  there  deliver  the 
flags  to  the  guard.  Not  till  then  did  many  of  the  men 
realize  to  what  an  extent  their  insubordination  had  led 
them.  But  the  end  was  not  yet. 

An  officer  of  the  guard  drew  a  paper  from  his  pocket, 
and  ordered  all  those  whose  names  were  called  to  step 
two  paces  to  the  front;  those  who  answered  to  their 
names  were  then  ordered  to  close  in  on  the  centre,  and 
were  informed  that  as  ringleaders  in  the  disgraceful  scenes 
of  the  day,  they  would  be  ' i  placed  under  a  strong  guard 
and  sent  to  prison,  there  to  remain  until  tried  by  a  court- 
martial  for  mutinous  conduct ! "  Some  of  us  thought  that 
the  officer  of  our  regiment  who  furnished  that  list  had 
been  actuated  somewhat  by  a  personal  grudge  against 
many  of  the  men,  for  some  were  called  out  who  had 
done  more  to  maintain  order  than  to  incite  mutiny. 

As  the  poor  fellows  were  marched  off  to  prison,  in  the 
dusk  of  the  evening,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  ' '  right 
face,"  and  the  march  was  begun  for  the  Eastern  Branch. 
A  short  distance  beyond  the  stream  we  bivouacked  for 
the  night  near  the  Maryland  Insane  Asylum — not  a  very 
strange  coincidence. 

Of  the  thirty -five  so-called  ringleaders  it  may  be  here 
stated  that  after  lying  in  the  central  guard  house  for 
some  days  they  were  taken  to  the  Navy  Yard  and  placed 
on  board  a  man-of-war.  Adjutant  Ireland  visited  them 
there  and  secured  the  release  of  fourteen,  while  the  rest 
were  sent  to  Fort  Jefferson,  Dry  Tortugas,  where  they 
arrived  early  in  September.  There  they  were  kept  at 
fatigue  duty,  always  under  guard,  till  the  16th  of  the 
following  February,  when  they  were  released  and  sent 
to  join  the  regiment,  then  at  Beaufort,  South  Carolina. 
Such  is  the  story  of  the  "mutiny,"  according  to  the 
documents  at  hand  and  the  recollections  of  those  who 


i86i.  NO   EXCUSE   IS   OFFERED.  67 

were  present  with  the  regiment  at  the  time.  Where  the 
blame  should  lie — for,  as  Colonel  Stevens  said,  our  being 
deceived — the  reader  can  judge  as  well  as  the  writer. 
For  the  action  of  the  men,  in  flatly  refusing  to  obey 
orders,  no  excuse  is  offered.  Before  our  term  of  service 
expired  we  had  learned  to  look  back  on  that  episode  as 
the  most  unfortunate  one  in  our  history,  and  the  wonder 
was  often  expressed  that  we  had  not  been  more  severely 
dealt  with. 


£8  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 


CHAPTER   V. 

FROM  CAMP  CAUSTEN  TO  ANNAPOLIS. 

CAMP  CAUSTEN. — Furloughs  and  Promotions. — Colonel  Stevens  Appreciated. — 
Scouting  for  Fun. — Camp  Hope. — Camp-fire  Stories. — How  Corporal  Galla 
gher  "  Rallied  his  Min." — Filters  and  Havelocks. — Into  Virginia  Again. — 
Camp  Advance. — Forts  Marcy  and  Ethan  Allen. — How  the  Woodman  did  n't 
Spare  the  Trees. — Spades  and  Muskets. — Visit  of  the  President.— "  Little 
Mac." — Expedition  on  the  Night  of  the  loth. — Skirmish  at  Lewinsville  on  the 
nth. — Extracts  from  Reports. — Our  Colors  Restored. — Adjutant  Hazard  Ste 
vens. — Death  of  Capt.  Baker,  of  the  California  Regiment. — "  Old  Scots  Awa." 
Second  Lewinsville. — Colonel  Stevens  Promoted. — "  Lie  Still,  the  Water  Ml 
Soon  Get  Warm." — Camp  of  the  Big  Chestnut. — The  Forty-Ninth  N.  Y. — Hur 
rying  to  the  Front  Again. — General  Stevens  Ordered  to  Annapolis. — "Tak  us 
wi  ye  !  " — Good-bye  to  Virginia. — Arrival  at  Annapolis. — Request  of  the 
"  Roundheads"  (rooth  Pa.  Vols.) 

OHORTLY  after  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  15th 
^  we  reached  our  camp  ground;  tents  were  soon 
pitched  and  the  regiment  resumed  its  usual  round  of 
duty.  Camp  Causten  was  so  named  in  honor  of  a  resi 
dent  of  Washington  who  had  been  kind  to  the  men  just 
after  we  returned  from  the  Bull  Run  campaign. 

After  the  excitement  had  subsided,  Colonel  Stevens 
announced  that  a  limited  number  of  furloughs  would  be 
granted,  those  men  having  families  being  given  the  pref 
erence;  under  this  rule  about  forty  had  an  opportunity 
of  visiting  their  homes,  returning  at  the  end  of  fifteen 
days.  On  the  18th  of  the  month  five  hundred  and  fifty- 
five  rank  and  file  were  in  camp,  and  the  regiment  num 
bered  seven  hundred  and  forty  on  the  rolls.  Several 
sergeants  were  appointed  second  lieutenants,  in  order  to 


i86i.  TIE  THEIR  SHOE-STRINGS  !  69 

properly  officer  the  companies,  and  we  began  to  appre 
ciate  the  services  of  our  new  Colonel. 

On  the  20th  Captain  Morrison  was  sent  out  in  com 
mand  of  a  detachment,  ostensibly  on  a  scouting  expedi 
tion,  but  as  there  was  no  enemy  in  our  neighborhood 
the  movement  was  devised  more  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
the  men  something  to  do  than  because  of  any  military 
necessity.  On  the  following  day  companies  B  and  D 
made  a  tour  about  ten  miles  from  camp,  while  one  of 
our  number,  a  civil  engineer  by  profession,  made  sketches 
and  measurements  for  a  topographical  map.  These  little 
expeditions  were  much  enjoyed,  as  they  afforded  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  the  country,  and  the  men  gen 
erally  returned  with  their  haversacks  full  of  fresh  bis 
cuits,  eggs,  chickens  and  vegetables,  purchased  from  the 
inhabitants.  Sometimes,  if  money  was  scarce,  a  corn 
field  would  be  visited  without  the  owner's  knowledge,  or 
the  men  would  stoop  down  in  a  melon  patch — to  tie  their 
shoe-strings  ! 

On  the  26th  we  packed  up,  marched  through  Wash 
ington,  and  went  into  camp  on  Kalorama  hill,  beyond 
Georgetown  and  within  a  mile  of  the  Chain  Bridge.  We 
were  attached  to  Brigadier- General  Eufus  King's  brigade 
and  found  a  large  number  of  troops  located  in  our  vicin 
ity.  On  the  27th  Gen.  McClellan  reviewed  the  lines,  and 
it  looked  as  though  another  forward  movement  would 
soon  be  inaugurated.  Camp  Hope  was  the  name  given 
to  our  new  location,  and  in  an  address  to  the  regiment 
our  Colonel  said  he  hoped  ' '  a  bright  and  glorious  career 
was  before  us,  which  would  efface  the  stain  cast  upon 
our  previous  good  name  by  the  unhappy  event  of  the 
mutiny."  Drilling  was  now  vigorously  prosecuted,  the 
army  had  confidence  in  McClellan,  and  we  believed  that 
our  next  campaign  would  result  in  victory  for  the  Union 
arms. 

What  stories  were  told  around  the  camp-fires  during 


70  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

those  pleasant  evenings  of  late  August  and  early  Sep 
tember!  Our  experience  at  Bull  Kun  was  a  never  failing 
source  from  which  to  draw,  and  no  doubt  more  lies  were 
swapped  over  that  affair  than  were  told  about  our  whole 
subsequent  period  of  service.  The  story  of  how  Corporal 
Gallagher  "covered  the  retreat"  was  always  in  order, 
and  whenever  the  men  felt  like  having  a  good  laugh,  or 
wished  to  show  a  stranger  the  sights,  Corporal  Gallagher 
was  led  out.  "Let 's  see,  Corporal,  how  was  it  that  you 
covered  the  retreat  from  Bull  Run  ? "  might  be  asked  of 
him  a  dozen  times  in  a  day,  and  answered  always  in  the 
same  unvaried  style:  "Well,  ye  see,  it  was  this  way: 
Jist  after  the  last  charge— whin  the  min  was  all  broke 
up— Gin'ral  MacDow'l,  he  kim  ridin'  up  on  his  harse, 
and  he  says,  says  he— lookin'  'round— 'Where's  Corp'ral 
Galligher?'  'I'm  here,  sir,'  says  I— spakin'  right  up. 
'Corp'ral  Gallagher,'  says  he,  'ye  must  save  the  day  ! 
Where's  all  your  min?'  'They're  all  dead,  sir,'  says  I, 
' barrin'  these  two  or  three  here  beside  me.'  '  Thin  rally 
your  min,  Corp'ral  Gallagher!'  says  Gin'ral  MacDow'l; 
and  I  rallied  thim  /"  The  last  sentence  being  pronounced 
in  a  deep  bass  voice,  the  Corporal  drawing  himself  up  to 
his  full  height,  and  assuming  an  air  of  quiet  dignity  as 
he  turned  on  his  heel— to  repeat  the  same  story,  in  less 
than  five  minutes,  perhaps,  to  an  other  crowd  of  the  boys. 
Constant  dropping,  even  of  water,  they  say,  will  wear 
away  a  stone,  and  Corporal  Gallagher  had  told  this  story 
so  often  that  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  he  believed  every 
word  of  it. 

As  we  became  more  accustomed  to  field  service,  many 
of  the  "conveniences"  brought  from  home  were  dis 
carded.  The  alleged  "Perfect  water-filters,"  so  highly 
recommended  by  the  manufacturers,  and  which  we  had 
been  urged  to  take  with  us  when  leaving  New  York, 
proved  to  be  perfect  frauds.  Many  were  the  warnings 
we  received  against  drinking  impure  water,  and  the 


i86i.  BEGAN   THE   ADVANCE.  71 

patent  devices  were  warranted  to  make  pure  the  most 
foul  and  unwholesome.  Memory  recalls  the  sight  of  men 
stooping  over  a  puddle  of  water  by  the  roadside,  sucking 
at  a  rubber  tube,  to  the  other  end  of  which  was  fixed  a 
ball  of  some  porous  substance  ;  we  would  suck,  and  suck, 
till  our  eyes  almost  started  from  their  sockets,  and  then 
to  note  that  the  water  we  sometimes  ejected  from  our 
mouths  was  fully  as  yellow  as  that  in  the  puddle!  Bah! 
Well,  the  Bull  Run  campaign  broke  a  great  many  idols. 

The  havelocks,  too,  were  tried  in  the  balance  and  found 
wanting.  "  0,  you  must  have  two  or  three  nice  have- 
locks!"  exclaimed  our  mothers,  sisters,  wives  and  sweet 
hearts  ;  ' '  the  sun  is  so  hot  down  South,  that  unless  you 
wear  them  whenever  you  are  out  of  doors,  you  will  be 
sun-struck!"  And  so  the  dear  ones  bought  baby  flannel 
and  made  their  boys  the  havelocks,  trimming  them  with 
whatever  color  their  taste  or  fancy  suggested.  Well,  we 
wore  them  to  Bull  Run,  but  after  that  they  were  never 
seen  on  the  heads  of  any  of  the  Highlanders;  they  went 
to  join  the  filters — but  not  all  of  them,  for  we  found  they 
made  excellent  gun  wipers.  "To  what  base  uses,"  etc., 
etc.  But  we  didn't  tell  the  folks  at  home;  when  they 
wrote,  asking  if  we  wanted  any  more,  we  simply  forgot 
to  answer  the  question. 

On  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  September,  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  began  the  advance  from  the  intrenchments 
in  the  vicinity  of  Alexandria  and  Arlington  Heights,  and 
joined  their  right  with  that  part  which  crossed  from  the 
northern  side  of  the  river  by  way  of  the  Chain  Bridge. 
About  midnight,  when  the  regiment  was  drawn  up  in 
line,  Colonel  Stevens  addressed  us  in  substance  as  follows: 
"Soldiers  of  the  Seventy-Ninth!  You  have  been  cen 
sured,  and  I  have  been  censured  with  you ;  you  are  now 
going  to  fight  the  battles  of  your  country  without  your 
colors!  I  pray  God  you  may  soon  have  an  opportunity  of 
meeting  the  enemy,  that  you  may  return  victorious  with 


72  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

your  colors  gloriously  won!"  As  cheering  was  prohibited 
at  that  late  hour,  the  men  listened  in  silence,  but  with  a 
determination,  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  recover  our  lost 
honors.  We  marched  to  the  bridge  and  bivouacked  for 
the  night,  crossing  early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th. 
Several  movements  were  made  during  the  forenoon,  for 
the  purpose  of  drawing  out  the  enemy,  who  were  reported 
in  force  within  a  mile  or  so  of  our  skirmish  line  ;  but  they 
kept  quiet,  retiring  slowly  before  our  advance.  By  dusk 
our  entire  line,  from  the  Chain  Bridge  on  the  right  to 
Alexandria  on  the  left,  was  established,  and  pickets  posted 
with  but  slight  loss.  We  had  no  tents  with  us,  and  at 
night  lay  down,  snugly  rolled  in  our  blankets.  Camp 
Advance  was  the  name  given  to  our  new  location. 

Early  the  next  morning  we  began  to  build  bush  huts, 
but  were  soon  detailed  to  work  on  rifle  pits  and  fortifica 
tions  for  the  protection  of  our  new  line.  We  were  now 
attached  to  the  First  brigade  (commanded  by  Colonel 
Stevens)  of  General  W.  F.,  or,  as  he  was  more  familiarly 
called,  "Baldy"  Smith's  division,  and  the  new  fort  on 
which  we  were  at  work  was  named  in  his  honor;  subse 
quently  the  name  was  changed  to  Fort  Marcy;  it  com 
manded  the  approaches  to  the  Chain  Bridge.  About  half 
a  mile  to  our  left,  Colonel  Baker's  California  Regiment 
were  at  work  on  Fort  Baker,  afterwards  named  Fort 
Ethan  Allen.  The  men  of  the  Maine  and  Wisconsin 
Regiments  did  most  of  the  tree  felling— work  with  which 
they  proved  themselves  perfectly  familiar.  It  was  an 
interesting  sight  to  witness  the  simultaneous  falling  of  a 
whole  hill-side  of  timber;  the  choppers  would  begin  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  the  line  extending  for  perhaps  half  a 
mile,  and  cut  only  part  way  through  the  tree,  and  in  this 
way  work  up  to  the  crest,  leaving  the  top  row  so  that  a 
single  blow  would  bring  down  the  tree — then,  when  all 
was  ready,  the  bugle  would  sound  as  a  signal,  and  the 
last  stroke  of  the  axe  be  given,  which  brought  down  the 


i86i.  SPADES  WERE  TRUMPS.  73 

top  row;  these  falling  on  those  below  would  bring  them 
down,  and,  like  the  billow  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean, 
the  forest  would  fall  with  a  crash  like  mighty  thunder. 

Shortly  before  crossing  the  Potomac  into  Virginia, 
Colonel  Stevens  discontinued  camp  guards,  which  were 
then  customarily  posted  to  prevent  the  men  from  strag 
gling,  and  invoked  the  sense  of  honor  and  discipline  of  the 
Highlanders  to  refrain  from  wandering  from  camp,  and 
from  annoying,  or  pilfering  from,  the  country  people.  The 
regiment  responded  nobly  to  this  appeal.  They  made  it 
a  point  of  pride  to  obey  scrupulously  these  orders.  The 
inhabitants,  as  more  than  one  remarked,  felt  safe  when 
they  saw  the  uniforms  of  the  Highlanders. 

For  several  days  our  time  was  fully  occupied  with  the 
hardest  kind  of  manual  labor;  spades  were  trumps,  and 
every  man  held  a  full  hand.  The  Highlanders  were 
about  the  only  regiment  in  Smith's  division  that  had  seen 
any  previous  service  in  the  field,  and  we  were  frequently 
called  out  of  the  trenches  and  sent  to  the  front,  in  order 
to  support  the  pickets  when  a  dash  was  made  by  the 
enemy ;  this,  with  our  own  regular  turns  of  outpost  duty, 
gave  us  much  more  than  our  proper  share  of  hard  work, 
and  at  last  the  officers  requested  that  we  be  assigned  to 
permanent  outpost  duty;  the  request  was  granted,  and 
the  uncongenial  labor  in  the  trenches  exchanged  for  the 
more  soldierly  duty. 

On  the  10th  the  regiment  was  visited  by  the  President, 
accompanied  by  the  Secretary  of  War  and  General 
McClellan.  The  Secretary,  and  General,  addressed  the 
regiment,  the  latter  being  pleased  to  say,  that  since  our 
arrival  in  Virginia  our  conduct,  especially  on  skirmish 
and  outpost  duty,  had  been  such  that  he  was  determined 
at  an  early  day  to  restore  our  colors.  We  cheered  him 
heartily,  feeling  that  "Little  Mac"  was,  after  all,  our 
friend. 

On  the  evening  of  this  day,  Adjutant  Ireland,  who  had 


Y±  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

been  raised  to  the  rank  of  Captain  in  the  regular  army, 
and  was  awaiting  his  transfer,  set  ont  with  one  hundred 
and  sixty  officers  and  men,  to  co-operate  with  a  detach 
ment  of  the  Fifth  Wisconsin,  of  Hancock's  brigade  of 
our  division,  which  had  been  ordered  to  advance  to  Lew- 
insville,  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  or  driving  off  a  small 
force  of  the  enemy  at  that  place.  One  of  those  who  par 
ticipated  in  the  midnight  expedition  writes: 

"  We  understood  that  we  were  to  be  posted  in  a  position 
to  prevent  or  intercept  re-enforcements  from  reaching 
Lewinsville,  in  case  the  enemy  raised  an  alarm.  We 
started  about  midnight,  and  were  conducted  by  our  guide, 
who  took  us  through  the  woods  and  fields,  in  order  to  get 
inside  the  enemy's  lines  without  encountering  their  pick 
ets.  It  seemed  as  though  we  traveled  in  a  circle,  for  I  am 
sure  we  went  over  the  same  ground  more  than  once;  it 
looked  as  though  we  were  trying  to  kill  time.  We  kept 
this  up  till  near  daylight,  when  two  of  the  four  compa 
nies  were  posted  in  a  field  along  a  fence,  while  the  other 
two  were  a  short  distance  off  on  our  right,  at  an  angle  in 
the  road,  and  quite  near  a  house  which  we  afterwards 
learned  was  owned  by  a  man  named  Stuart,  an  officer  in 
the  rebel  army. 

4 '  We  of  the  left  wing  had  been  in  position  but  a  short 
time  when  a  body  of  cavalry  was  seen  approaching  from 
our  left,  on  a  road  running  parallel  with,  and  a  short  dis 
tance  in  front  of,  the  fence  along  which  we  were  posted. 
By  looking  obliquely  to  the  left  the  horsemen  were  dis 
tinctly  seen,  and  without  any  command  each  man's 
musket  was  raised  to  cover  the  approaching  enemy.  The 
cavalry  appeared  to  be  unconscious  of  our  presence  until 
their  attention  was  attracted  by  the  actions  of  a  small 
dog  belonging  to  their  party,  and  who  was  running  a 
short  distance  in  advance  of  the  troop.  The  little  "Ar 
gus"  was  vigilant,  and  gave  unmistakable  signs  that 
strangers  were  near;  the  leader  of  the  party  raised  his 


1 86 1.  LONG  ROLL  WAS  BEATEN.  75 

hand  and  the  riders  moved  more  cautiously ;  soon  we  were 
discovered,  and  the  troop  began  at  once,  quietly,  to  coun 
termarch.  As  soon  as  we  observed  that  movement,  and, 
as  I  believe,  without  any  word  of  command,  our  muskets 
were  discharged  at  the  enemy,  who  galloped  off. 

"About  the  same  time  we  heard  firing  from  our  right 
wing,  and  when,  a  moment  or  two  later,  the  forces  were 
joined,  we  learned  that  they  had  fired  into  a  wagon  drawn 
by  two  mules  and  driven  by  a  darkey;  our  boys  thought 
.at  first  that  a  piece  of  artillery  was  approaching,  and 
being  somewhat  excited,  blazed  away;  the  mules  dropped 
in  their  tracks,  being  killed  instantly,  while  the  driver 
jumped  from  the  seat  and  fled  to  the  woods  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  the  road.  In  the  confusion  of  firing,  John 
Downie  of  Company  H  was  shot  by  some  one  of  the  rear 
rank — a  most  unfortunate  circumstance,  and  one  deeply 
deplored.  The  wagon  was  found  to  contain  a  rebel  Ma 
jor,  wounded,  whom  we  brought  in  a  prisoner. 

"  The  next  moment  the  long  roll  was  beaten — appar 
ently  in  our  immediate  front — cavalry  bugles  not  far  to 
our  right  were  heard,  and  as  the  retreating  enemy  had 
gone  to  the  left,  we  seemed  to  be  surrounded.  No  one, 
except  the  guide  or  scout  who  had  conducted  us,  knew  in 
what  direction  we  ought  to  move,  in  order  to  get  out  of 
the  enemy's  line;  but  our  man  proved  true,  and  by  taking 
us  through  woods  and  cornfields,  we  were  soon  inside  our 
own  lines  again  and  breathed  freer." 

Captain  Ireland  says  in  his  report :  l '  The  command  was 
divided  into  two  wings,  to  guard  the  approach  of  the 
enemy.  Soon  after  the  men  had  been  posted,  firing  was 
heard  in  the  direction  of  Lewinsville,  and  a  body  of  cav 
alry  came  from  the  direction  of  Falls  Church,  and  while 
endeavoring  to  pass  where  we  were  posted,  our  men  were 
ordered  to  fire,  which  they  did,  causing  the  enemy  to 
retreat.  Previous  to  their  retreating,  which  was  caused 
by  a  well-directed  fire  from  the  left  wing,  under  command 


76  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  September^ 

of  Lieutenant  John  Falconer,  the  enemy  (?)  fired  on  us, 
killing  one  private,  John  Downie  of  Company  H.  At  the 
same  time  the  right  wing  captured  a  prisoner  who  was 
wounded,  and  who  had  on,  when  captured,  a  Major's 
shoulder  straps.  Lieutenant  Alexander  Gra 

ham  of  Company  H  was  conspicuous  for  his  coolness  and 
bravery  during  the  engagement.  Mr.  Hazard  Stevens 
(volunteer)  distinguished  himself  by  his  usefulness  and 
bravery."  Downie  died  a  few  minutes  after  our  lines 
were  reached. 

When  the  detachment  returned  to  camp  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  llth,  they  were  given  quite  an  ovation;  but  we 
had  little  time  for  indulging  in  mutual  admiration,  for  the 
regiment  was  under  orders  to  join  a  larger  expedition,  a 
reconnoissance  in  force,  in  the  same  direction  as  that  taken 
by  our  men  the  night  before. 

It  was  McClellan's  intention  to  advance  his  lines  beyond 
Lewinsville  at  an  early  day,  and  these  movements  were 
intended,  doubtless,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  fortifying 
their  position,  as  well  as  to  examine  more  closely  the 
ground  over  which  the  contemplated  movement  was  to 
be  made.  Our  force  consisted  of  about  eighteen  hundred 
men,  divided  between  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery,  and 
was  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Stevens.  The  High 
landers,  Captain  Ireland  commanding,  with  four  compa 
nies  of  the  First  U.  S.  Chasseurs,  were  placed  under 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Shaler  of  the  latter  regiment. 

Lewinsville  was  occupied  without  opposition  011  the 
part  of  the  enemy,  and  while  the  main  body  of  the  troops 
remained  there,  Company  F,  Lieutenant  McNie,  and 
Company  K,  Lieutenant  S.  E.  Elliot,  of  the  Highlanders, 
were  deployed  as  skirmishers;  this  position  being  main 
tained  while  Lieutenant  0.  M.  Poe  of  the  Topographical 
Engineers  was  prosecuting  his  part  of  the  work.  When 
this  was  accomplished,  and  just  as  the  skirmish  line  and 
videttes  were  being  called  in,  the  enemy — who  up  to  this 


i86i.  MORE  LIKE  VETERANS.  77 

moment  had  kept  perfectly  quiet,  but  who  had  worked 
unperceived  around  to  our  left — without  a  moment's 
warning,  opened  on  our  flank  with  shrapnel  from  a  gun 
less  than  five  hundred  yards  distant,  wounding  one  man 
each  in  Companies  A,  B  and  F.  The  regiment  was  lying 
in  the  road  at  the  time,  the  left  of.  which,  and  towards 
the  enemy's  fire,  was  lined  by  a  stone  wall;  we  sprang  at 
once  to  the  cover  of  the  wall,  and  although  the  enemy 
fired  several  more  shots,  no  other  casualties  occurred. 
Mott's  battery  was  soon  in  position,  and  after  delivering 
two  or  three  shots  compelled  the  enemy  to  retire.  Cap 
tain  Ireland,  in  his  report,  says:  "The  conduct  of  the 
officers  and  men  on  this  occasion  was  all  that  could  be 
desired.  They  were  cool  and  collected,  behaving  as  well 
as  if  on  parade,  and  more  like  veteran  troops  than  vol 
unteers." 

Lieutenant  Elliot  says  of  his  command:  "Just  as  the 
bugle  was  sounding  (the  recall),  an  officer  rode  up  and 
ordered  me  to  move  the  picket  parallel  with  the  column, 
at  the  same  distance  out,  and  preserving  the  same  inter 
vals,  so  as  to  protect  the  flank  from  surprise.  I  imme 
diately  started  for  the  guide  to  aid  me  in  carrying  out 
the  order,  but  before  I  could  find  him  another  order 
came  to  recall  the  picket  as  soon  as  possible.  Lieutenant 
Lusk  started  to  call  in  the  picket,  and  in  his  over-eager 
ness  attempted  to  call  in  both  platoons,  which  caused 
him  to  be  late  with  his  own  wing.  As  soon  as  the  men 
stationed  on  the  Falls  Church  road  began  to  come  in,  I 
observed  a  number  of  men  without  uniforms  emerge 
from  the  wood  at  the  side  of  that  road  and  creep  on  their 
hands  and  knees  along  the  fence  to  the  gate  where  the 
cavalry  had  been  stationed;  they  then  trailed  into  the 
wood  on  the  right  of  Gilbert's  house.  Forming  the  men 
as  quickly  as  I  could,  I  made  a  signal  for  the  left  wing, 
under  Lieutenant  Lusk,  to  retreat  through  the  cornfield, 
as  they  were  cutting  us  off,  and  started  with  what 


78  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

remained  of  my  command  down  the  lane  to  rejoin  our 
regiment,  our  pace  being  somewhat  accelerated  by  the 
sight  of  some  men  unlimbering,  as  I  thought,  a  gun  in  a 
small  spot  of  rising  ground  behind  the  cornfield  and 
somewhat  to  the  rear  of  the  house.  We  had  not  moved 
fifty  paces  from  the  house  when  a  volley  of  musketry 
was  directed  obliquely  at  us  from  the  left,  and  at  almost 
the  same  instant  the  gun  opened  fire  on  our  right.  Look 
ing  back,  I  saw  Lieutenant  Lusk,  who  had  not  under 
stood  my  signal,  returning  with  the  last  of  his  men  into 
the  very  yard  where  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were.  By 
this  time  nothing  could  have  been  easier  than  to  have 
taken  them  prisoners,  instead  of  which  the  skirmishers, 
apparently  thinking  themselves  surprised,  in  turn  fired 
at  them  and  retreated  by  the  side  of  the  house.  Lieuten 
ant  Lusk,  with  considerable  adroitness,  leaped  the  fence, 
followed  by  his  two  sergeants,  and  retreated  under  cover 
of  the  cornfield  in  safety  to  his  regiment.  The  men 
throughout  behaved  admirably;  even  after  it  became 
certain  that  those  crouching  forms  were  the  enemy's 
advance  they  showed  less  trepidation  than  perhaps  I 
might  have  wished  for  the  sake  of  celerity." 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Shaler  in  his  report  says:  "The 
conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Seventy-Ninth 
while  under  my  command  was  in  the  highest  degree 
praiseworthy.  They  gave  undoubted  evidence  of  their 
bravery  and  resoluteness."  Colonel  B.  N.  Hyde,  of  the 
Third  Vermont,  was  kind  enough  to  say :  "I  beg  leave 
to  speak  of  the  good  behavior  of  the  Seventy-Ninth  Eeg- 
iment,  New  York  Highlanders,  immediately  preceding 
my  own." 

Colonel  Stevens  also  paid  a  high  compliment  to  the 
Highlanders;  he  says:  "The  skirmishers,  however, 
thrown  out  from  the  regiment  of  Highlanders  towards 
Falls  Church  were  not  recalled  till  time  enough  had 
elapsed  to  collect  and  bring  in  the  skirmishers  covering 


i86i.  COOLNESS  AND  BRAVERY.  <9 

the  approach  on  the  other  roads.  They  were  considered 
by  me  to  occupy  the  critical  point  of  the  position,  and  I 
had  given  great  attention  to  impress  vigilance  upon  the 
skirmishers  in  that  direction.  On  Mott's 

change  of  position  to  the  hill  on  the  other  side  of  the 
road,  I  stationed  the  Highlanders  in  the  road,  and  re 
mained  there  till  it  was  withdrawn,  when  the  Highland 
ers  became  the  rear  guard  of  the  column.  I  was  then 
directed  by  you  (General  Smith,  who  had  arrived  on  the 
field)  to  cross  into  the  fields  to  the  right  and  make  for  a 
cross-road  which  led  from  Falls  Church  to  Langley,  and 
in  which  it  was  feared  the  enemy  might  advance  to 
annoy  our  flank.  This  duty  was  executed  by  the  High 
landers  in  most  excellent  spirit  and  most  of  the  time  on 
the  double-quick." 

As  indicated  by  the  above  extract,  the  enemy  followed 
us  for  a  short  distance  on  our  return  to  camp,  but  the 
solid  front  displayed  by  the  regiment  kept  them  at  a 
respectful  distance.  The  object  of  the  expedition  had 
been  fully  accomplished  before  the  enemy  made  their 
appearance,  and  yet  because  of  their  following  us  a  short 
distance  on  our  return  they  claimed  a  great  victory. 
Their  troops  engaged  were  the  brigades  of  General  Long- 
street  and  Colonel  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  and  the  gun  used 
belonged  to  the  Washington,  La.,  Artillery,  Captain 
Rossei. 

On  our  return  to  camp,  at  half -past  five  in  the  after 
noon,  General  McClellan  met  and  highly  complimented 
the  regiment  for  the  ' '  coolness  and  bravery  "  displayed 
on  the  occasion.  Our  conduct  was  no  doubt  satisfactory, 
for  on  the  14:th  he  sent  the  following  communication  to 
our  division  commander : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC.  { 

Washington,  September  14,  1861. 
"  GENERAL  WILLIAM  F.  SMITH,  Chain  Bridge  : 

"The  colors  of  the  New  York  Seventy-Ninth  will  be 


80  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

sent  to  you  to-morrow.  Please  return  them  to  the  regi 
ment,  with  the  remark  that  they  have  shown  by  their 
conduct  in  the  reconnoissance  of  the  llth  instant,  that 
they  are  worthy  to  carry  their  banners  into  action,  and 
the  Commanding  General  is  confident  they  will  always 
in  future  sustain  and  confirm  him  in  the  favorable  opin 
ion  he  has  formed  of  them. 

(Signed)  GEORGE  B.  MCCLELLAN, 

Major-General  Commanding. " 

On  the  16th  a  grand  review  of  the  army  took  place,  at 
the  close  of  which  the  regiment  was  visited  by  General 
McClellan,  who  in  a  congratulatory  address  restored  our 
flags  in  person.  He  said  in  substance  that  he  considered 
we  had  richly  deserved  the  restoration  of  our  colors, 
because,  since  our  return  to  Virginia,  and  especially  dur 
ing  the  affair  of  the  llth,  we  had  acquitted  ourselves  as 
true  soldiers.  He  further  said  that  we  would  have  an 
opportunity,  ere  long,  of  defending  the  flags,  and  hoped 
we  would  do  that  as  gallantly  as  we  had  won  them. 
' '  Little  Mac  "  was  cheered  to  the  echo,  and  a  happy  lot 
of  men  marched  back  to  camp  that  afternoon;  we  were 
heartily  cheered  by  the  regiments  whose  camps  we 
passed  on  the  way  to  our  own,  and  in  the  evening  the 
event  was  celebrated  in  a  manner  becoming  the  impor 
tance  of  the  occasion. 

On  the  18th  Captain  Ireland  left  us  to  join  his  regi 
ment,  and  Hazard  Stevens,  who  had  been  acting  in  that 
capacity  for  some  time,  was  appointed  adjutant  in  his 
place.  Captain  Ireland  was  much  thought  of  by  the 
Highlanders,  not  alone  on  account  of  his  ability  as  an 
officer,  but  for  his  personal  and  social  qualities  as  well; 
he  left  with  the  best  wishes  of  all  his  old  associates.  Our 
new  adjutant  was  a  mere  boy,  apparently,  but  a  "chip 
of  the  old  block  "  clear  through.  He  had  accompanied 
the  expedition  on  the  night  of  the  10th  armed  with  a 


1 86 1.  HAZARD  STEVENS  !  81 

musket,  and  on  the  llth  acted  as  aid  on  his  father's 
(Col.  Stevens')  staff.  When  the  rebel  gun  first  opened 
on  us  Hazard  was  just  a  little  bit  excited,  seeing  which 
the  Colonel,  in  a  voice  like  a  Stentor,  exclaimed,  ' '  Haz 
ard  Stevens!"  and  that  was  enough  to  bring  the  young 
man  back  to  himself;  he  afterwards  rode  along  the  lines 
while  the  shells  were  bursting  about  us,  as  cool  and  col 
lected  as  the  Colonel  himself.  He  was  a  veteran  from 
that  moment. 

Although  performing  outpost  duty  most  of  the  time, 
we  were  obliged  occasionally  to  shoulder  the  pick  and 
shovel.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  31st,  just  as  we  had 
begun  work  at  Fort  Baker,  to  which  point  we  had  been 
moved  on  the  15th,  the  sound  of  musketry  was  heard  in 
the  direction  of  the  picket  line,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
bugle  sounded  the  Assembly;  we  were  soon  under  arms 
and  off  to  the  front  on  the  double  quick.  Rain  was  fall 
ing  heavily  at  the  time  and  the  roads  were  deep  with 
mud,  but  we  pushed  on  till  the  outpost  was  reached; 
there  we  learned  that  Captain  Baker,  of  the  California 
Regiment,  who  had  been  in  command  of  the  post,  had 
started  out  with  a  few  men  to  "capture"  a  small  scout 
ing  pary  of  the  enemy,  observed  near  by,  and  had  been 
fired  oil  by  another  body  of  the  enemy  who  lay  in 
ambush.  Captain  Baker  fell  at  the  first  fire,  and  his 
men,  after  discharging  their  pieces  at  the  enemy,  beat  a 
hasty  retreat  back  to  their  post.  We  marched  to  the 
spot  where  the  affair  occurred  and  found  the  captain's 
body,  which  was  borne  back  to  camp  by  his  men. 
Before  leaving,  the  rebels  had  taken  his  sword,  watch 
and  money,  and  would  110  doubt  have  stripped  the  body 
of  its  clothing  had  they  tarried  long  enough.  We  re 
mained  in  the  vicinity  for  an  hour  or  more,  standing  in 
the  pelting  rain,  while  scouts  were  sent  out  to  examine 
the  neighborhood;  on  their  reporting  the  enemy  gone,  we 
returned  to  camp  at  about  half -past  six  o'clock,  thor 
oughly  drenched.  (> 


$2  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

When  Colonel  Cameron  was  elected  to  the  command 
of  the  regiment,  the  Rev.  Peter  Rizer  was  installed  as 
chaplain ;  little  was  seen  of  him,  however,  till  about  the 
time  of  our  return  to  Virginia.  The  men  paid  him  no 
great  regard,  and  although  he  probably  tried  to  do  his 
duty  as  far  as  lay  in  his  power,  it  was  up-hill  work.  Not 
that  the  men  were  indifferent  to  religious  teachings — 
quite  the  contrary — for  prayer  meetings  were  frequently 
held  which  were  well  attended  by  both  officers  and  men. 
Chaplain  Rizer  conducted  divine  service  on  Sunday  after 
noons,  which  was  held  immediately  after  dress  parade  ; 
Robertson's  band  played  very  beautifully  the  Scotch 
national  song,  "Scots  Wha  Hae,"  on  such  occasions, 
and  when  in  the  course  of  the  exercises  the  time  came 
for  the  music,  the  chaplain,  with  an  inclination  of  the 
head  towards  the  leader,  would  say:  "The  band  will 
now  play  'Scot s  Away ! "  It  was  more  than  all  of  the 
men  could  do  to  keep  a  straight  face  when  the  request 
was  made.  The  Scottish  dialect  was  all  Greek  to  the 
chaplain,  and  as  he  had  picked  up  the  name  of  the  tune 
by  ear,  "Scots  Away"  was  "  Scots  Wha  Hae  "  to  him,  and 
during  his  stay  with  us  he  received  no  other  designation 
than  "Old  Scots  Away." 

On  the  25th  the  regiment  took  an  active  part  in 
another  expedition  to  Lewinsville.  The  region  was  well 
stocked  with  grain  and  forage,  and  about  one  hundred 
wagons  accompanied  us  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  back 
the  spoils.  General  Smith  was  in  command  of  about 
five  thousand  troops,  while  the  advance  was  under  the 
direction  of  Colonel  Stevens.  As  General  Smith  says  in 
his  report :  "Six  companies  of  the  Seventy-Ninth  New 
York,  half  a  mile  in  advance  as  skirmishers,  supported 
by  the  remaining  companies  of  the  regiment,  and  the 
Second  Vermont,"  advanced  to  and  beyond  the  town. 
When  ordered  to,  halt  we  remained  in  our  places  till 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  enemy  appear- 


1 86 1.  AY  ELL-MERITED   PROMOTION.  83 

ing  in  our  front  but  not  attempting  any  demonstration. 
At  the  above  hour  the  wagons  had  been  filled  and  stalled 
on  their  return  to  camp  ;  just  as  the  skirmish  line  was 
ordered  to  fall  back  we  captured  a  prisoner,  who  said  he 
was  acting  as  aid  to  Colonel  Stuart,  who  was  then  about 
a  mile  away,  but  advancing  rapidly  to  drive  us  back. 
Shortly  after,  the  enemy  were  seen  advancing  by  the 
Falls  Church  road,  and  a  moment  or  two  later  they 
opened  fire  on  our  left  with  one  of  their  guns,  which, 
however,  did  not  reach  our  position  ;  then  they  brought 
two  more  pieces  in  play  on  our  right  within  easy  range, 
but  when  Griffin's  battery  had  fired  about  thirty  shots 
the  rebels  limbered  up,  and  the  dust  raised  by  their 
retreating  column  could  be  plainly  seen  as  they  fell  back 
towards  Falls  Church.  The  regiment  returned  to  camp 
shortly  after  six  o'clock. 

Thursday,  the  20th,  was  a  fast  day  appointed  by  the 
President,  and  we  had  a  good  rest ;  the  enemy,  too, 
seemed  to  observe  the  occasion  for  we  were  not  called 
out ;  but  there  were  few  days  on  which  we  were  not 
called  upon  for  some  special  service.  Just  after  sun 
down  011  the  28th,  the  whole  brigade  was  turned  out,  and 
the  men  began  to  think  that  ( '  this  sort  of  work  is  get 
ting  rather  monotonous."  We  generally  took  care  of  our 
front  when  on  outpost  duty,  and  it  was  rarely  that  the 
others  were  called  out ;  but  the  new  regiments  were  more 
easily  excited,  and  would  raise  an  alarm  on  the  slightest 
provocation.  Colonel  Stevens  declared  that  he  never  got 
a  good  night's  rest  except  when  his  Highlanders  were  on 
picket  duty. 

On  Sunday,  the  29th,  Secretary  Cameron  again  visited 
the  regiment  and  made  a  short  address,  assuring  us  of 
the  deep  interest  he  took  in  our  welfare.  In  orders  read 
at  dress  parade  that  evening,  it  was  announced  that  Col 
onel  Stevens  had  been  appointed  a  Brigadier-General, 
and  while  we  all  rejoiced  in  his  well-merited  promotion, 


84  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  October, 

we  felt  sorry  at  the  thought  of  losing  him  from  the 
regiment.  He  had  endeared  himself  to  us  as  no  other 
officer  ever  had,  and  every  man  felt  that  he  had  in 
Colonel  Stevens  a  true  friend;  he  would  never  order  a 
man  to  go  where  he  dared  not  lead,  and,  this  being 
known,  his  orders  were  always  cheerfully  obeyed. 

The  night  of  the  29th  proved  a  very  stormy  one  ;  the 
rain  fell  in  torrents,  and  our  bush  huts  afforded  scant 
shelter.  We  were  obliged  to  get  up,  after  finding  the 
water  running  under  and  over  our  blankets,  and  "stand 
round  "  as  best  we  could  till  daylight.  One  of  our  num 
ber,  an  old  sailor,  slept  soundly  through  it  all,  till  his  bed 
fellow,  who  had  been  up  some  time,  shook  him  by  the 
shoulder  and  said  :  ' i  Jack  !  get  up  !  you're  lying  in  a  pool 
of  water  three  inches  deep  ! "  With  a  grunt  the  old  salt 
merely  turned  over  and  said  :  "No,  I'll  lie  still ;  the  wa 
ter  '11  get  warm  soon  ! "  and  lie  still  he  did. 

On  the  30th  the  regiment  moved  out  a  short  distance 
on  the  Mun son's  Hill  road  and  bivouacked.  Indications 
all  pointed  to  an  early  advance  of  the  army,  and  the 
Highlanders,  as  usual,  were  in  the  lead.  We  carried 
three  days'  rations  in  our  haversacks,  and  expected  to 
resume  the  advance  in  the  morning;  instead  of  which  we 
returned  to  camp,  and  nothing  of  importance  occurred 
for  several  days. 

On  the  llth  of  October  our  division  made  an  advance 
movement  to  and  beyond  Lewiiisville  ;  the  Highlanders 
were  on  the  skirmish  line,  ready  to  meet  the  enemy,  and 
prove  again  their  ability  to  defend  the  colors  now  carried 
proudly  in  our  ranks.  When  Prospect  Hill,  about  five 
miles  west  of  Camp  Advance,  was  reached,  the  line  was 
ordered  to  halt.  The  enemy  had  not  seriously  disputed 
our  progress,  but  retired  slowly  before  our  determined 
advance.  After  headquarters  had  been  established,  our 
location  was  named  "Camp  of  the  Big  Chestnut,"  in 
honor  of  a  huge  tree  of  that  variety  which  stood  on  the 


i86i.  MACEDONIAN  CRY.  85 

ground.  On  the  following  day,  in  order  to  establish  our 
lines  a  safe  distance  from  camp,  we  drove  the  enemy's 
pickets  back  a  mile  or  two  further.  Our  tents  arrived  the 
same  day,  and  we  now  enjoyed  a  better  protection  from 
the  weather  than  we  had  known  since  leaving  Camp  Hope. 

On  the  1-tth  the  Forty-Ninth  New  York,  while  out 
scouting,  encountered  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  and 
for  an  hour  or  more  a  lively  interchange  of  musketry  fire 
was  kept  up  ;  both  sides  were  plucky,  and  neither  would 
give  ground  ;  help  was  needed  and  the  Highlanders  were 
called  on  to  respond.  We  were  just  forming  in  line  for 
dress-parade  when  the  Macedonian  cry  reached  us,  and 
we  started  at  once.  The  sound  of  the  firing  could  be 
plainly  heard,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  as  though  we 
might  have  some  warm  work  before  us.  The  enemy, 
however,  became  aware  of  the  approach  of  re-enforce- 
meiits,  for  when  the  skirmish  line  was  reached  they  had 
retired.  It  was  dark  when  we  began  our  return  march, 
and  camp  was  reached  in  time  for  a  late  supper. 

Reveille  at  half  past  four  on  the  morning  of  the  15th 
woke  us  up,  and  after  partaking  of  hot  coffee,  which  the 
cooks  had  ready  for  us,  we  started  on  a  scouting  expedi 
tion,  but  we  did  not  see  anything  of  the  enemy,  nothing 
of  importance  occurred,  and  we  returned  to  camp  in  the 
afternoon. 

Even  after  being  made  a  Brigadier- General,  our  old 
Colonel  retained  immediate  command  of  the  regiment, 
but  when  the  great  combined  Land  and  Naval  Expedition 
was  being  fitted  out  at  Annapolis,  under  the  direction  of 
General  T.  W.  Sherman,  General  Stevens  was  ordered  to 
report  to  him  for  duty.  At  dress-parade  on  the  16th  the 
following  order  was  read  : 

' c  HEADQUARTERS  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS, 

Camp  of  the  Big  Chestnut,  Oct.  16,  1861. 
"SPECIAL  ORDER  : 

*  'Called  suddenly  away  by  order  of  the  War  Department, 


86  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  October, 

Brigadier- General  Stevens  relinquishes  command  of  the 
Seventy-Ninth  Regiment,  Highlanders,  a  command  which 
he  has  held  under  such  peculiar  and  trying  circumstances, 
and  as  he  humbly  trusts  not  without  advantage  to  the 
regiment  and  to  the  public  service.  In  parting  with  the 
regiment  he  congratulates  it  upon  its  soldierly  character 
and  its  well-earned  reputation.  He  shall  always  look  back 
upon  his  connection  with  the  regiment  with  extreme 
pleasure.  To  the  new  theatre  to  which  he  is  called  he 
will  carry  with  him  the  warmest  regards  for  the  regiment, 
and  shall  ever  take  the  deepest  interest  in  its  welfare. 
By  order  of  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  STEVENS. 
HAZARD  STEVENS,  Adjutant." 

On  learning  of  this  order,  Captain  Morrison,  on  whom 
the  command  of  the  regiment  now  devolved,  had  asked 
General  Stevens  to  address  the  men  before  leaving,  and 
after  the  reading  of  the  order  he  presented  himself  for 
that  purpose.  As  he  spoke  to  us,  and  recalled  the  events 
of  the  past  two  months,  his  voice  faltered,  and  it  was 
quite  evident  that  he  regretted  the  parting  as  much  as  we 
did.  Just  as  he  turned  to  ride  off,  one  of  our  number, 
stepping  a  pace  or  two  in  front  of  the  line,  shouted:  "  For 
God's  sake,  General,  tak'  us  wi9  ye ! "  This  touched  a  re 
sponsive  chord  in  every  breast,  and  the  cry  was  at  once 
taken  up  by  the  whole  line  :  "Take  us  with  you!"  The 
General  stopped  his  horse,  turned  towards  the  line  and 
looked  a  moment  at  us,  as  with  outstretched  arms  we 
repeated  the  request.  This  appeal  was  more  than  the 
General  expected.  Recovering  himself  after  a  moment, 
he  found  voice  to  say:  "I  will  if  I  can  ;"  and  then,  put 
ting  spurs  to  his  horse,  galloped  off. 

As  the  sequel  showed,  he  went  direct  to  the  War  De 
partment  and  made  the  request,  for  the  next  day  the 
Assistant  Secretary,  Colonel  Thomas  A.  Scott,  telegraphed 
to  General  Sherman  at  Annapolis,  asking  him  if  he 


1 86 1.  HOPES   WERE   REWARDED.  8? 

wanted  the  Seventy- Ninth  Highlanders  ;  the  reply  came 
back :  "I  want  the  Highlanders  ;  send  them  immediate 
ly."  Scott  then  telegraphed  McClellan :  "  If  Generals 
Sherman  and  Stevens  want  the  Seventy-Ninth  to  go  with 
expedition,  can  you  spare  them  ? "  To  which  McClellan 
replied,  in  substance,  that  he  had  already  given  Sherman 
more  troops  than  could  be  spared,  and  that  he  would  not 
consent  to  let  any  more  disciplined  regiments  go  from  the 
army  of  the  Potomac.  Then  Sherman  applied  to  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  who  on  the  18th  telegraphed  the  former 
that  he  had  shown  McClellan  his  dispatch  and  that  he 
had  promised  not  to  break  McClellan's  army  without  his 
consent.  Meanwhile,  between  hopes  that  he  would,  and 
fears  that  he  couldn't,  take  us  with  him,  we  waited 
anxiously  for  word  from  General  Stevens. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  18th  our  hopes  were  rewarded, 
by  receiving  orders  to  proceed  at  once  to  Annapolis ; 
President  Lincoln  no  doubt  persuaded  McClellan  to  let  us 
go.  An  order  to  go  to  New  York  would  hardly  have  met 
with  a  more  cheerful  response.  k '  I  told  you  the  General 
would  fix  it !"  "He  thinks  too  much  of  us  to  leave  us 
behind!"  "  He  could  n't  get  along  without  us!"  and  such 
like  expressions,  were  heard  on  all  sides,  as  we  busied 
ourselves  in  packing  up.  So  loth  was  our  brigade  com 
mander  to  lose  the  regiment  that  when  he  received  orders 
to  send  us  away,  he  tried  to  have  the  order  counter 
manded,  saying  that  he  would  rather  part  with  all  the 
other  regiments  of  his  brigade  first ;  he  also  refused  us 
transportation  for  baggage  ;  but,  failing  to  accomplish  his 
purpose,  he  finally  furnished  a  few  wagons  and  allowed 
us  to  depart. 

At  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  order  to  "fall  in" 
was  given,  and  we  were  soon  on  the  road  towards  the 
Chain  Bridge.  What  a  chatter  the  men  kept  up,  during 
that  evening's  march!  The  newspapers  had  informed  us 
of  the  rendezvous  of  troops  at  Annapolis,  for  some  import- 


88  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  October, 

ant  expedition,  and  there  was  latitude  enough  for  our 
wise  heads  to  guess  at  its  destination.  The  feeling  seemed 
to  be  general  that  Charleston  was  the  objective  point,  and 
we  revelled  in  anticipation  of  the  glory  we  should  achieve 
in  capturing  "  the  Cradle  of  Secession." 

While  we  were  crossing  the  Chain  Bridge  the  band, 
which  had  been  silent  for  a  while,  began  playing  "0, 
carry  me  back  to  Old  Virginny."  Cries  of  "Stop  that !" 
"  Dry  up!"  "  Cheese  it !"  and  "Give  us  a  rest!"  soon 
silenced  that  tune,  and  it  was  changed  to  ' '  We  '11  gang 
na  mair  to  your  town."  It  was  only  a  joke  on  the  part 
of  the  leader,  for  Robertson  was  as  glad  to  get  out  of  the 
Old  Dominion  as  any  of  us.  For  fear  the  band  should 
break  loose  again,  we  began  singing,  and  the  still  night 
air  soon  resounded  with  the  inspiring  strains  of  "  John 
Brown's  Body,"  "Rally  round  the  Flag,  boys,"  and  such 
like  patriotic  airs.  It  was  not  till  our  exuberant  spirits 
had  been  somewhat  quieted  by  an  hour's  marching  that 
we  settled  down  into  a  quiet,  steady  tramp.  The  Wash 
ington  railroad  station  was  soon  reached  ;  we  boarded  the 
cars,  and  in  due  time  arrived  at  Annapolis,  where  we 
found  General  Stevens,  and  his  son,  Captain  Hazard, 
ready  to  welcome  us.  It  would  be  difficult  to  say  which 
were  the  more  pleased. 

When  we  found  time  to  look  about  us,  and  saw  the 
large  fleet  of  transports  lying  in  the  harbor,  the  magni 
tude  of  the  expedition  began  to  dawn  upon  us.  As  soon 
as  it  was  known  that  we  were  to  form  part  of  the  expe 
dition,  the  Pennsylvania  Roundhead  regiment,  also 
attached  to  the  expedition,  sent  a  request  to  headquar 
ters,  asking  that  the  Highlanders  might  be  placed  in  the 
same  brigade  with  them.  The  request  was  granted  ; 
and,  during  the  long  time  we  were  associated  with  this 
body  of  brave  men — many  of  whom  were  the  descend 
ants  of  Cromwell's  soldiers — our  relations  were  of  the 
most  friendly  character. 


,!86i.  THE   MICHIG ANDERS.  89 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FROM  ANNAPOLIS  TO  ST.   HELENA  ISLAND. 

ON  Board  the  Vanderhilt. — The  Eighth  Michigan. — The  Expeditionary  Force. — 
Soldiers'  Stories. — Turning  the  Tables. — The  Storm  off  Hatteras. — Arrival  at 
Port  Royal,  S.  C. — The  Bombardment  and  Capture. — The  Highlanders  at  Bay 
Point. — What  we  found  there. — Quartermaster  Lilly's  Whiskey. — The  Negroes. 
— St.  Helena  Island. — Dr.  Jenkins'  Plantation. — How  we  Quenched  our 
Thirst. — The  Slaves'  Stories.— "Golly,  didn't  dem  Rotten  Shot  Skeer  us."— 
"  Massa  Linkum." — The  Slaves'  Rations.—  Plantation  Melodies. — The  Lash. 

the  afternoon  of  the  19th  we  embarked  on  board 
the  side-wheel  steamship  Vanderbilt,  by  far  the 
largest  in  the  fleet.  This  noble  vessel  had  been  presented 
to  the  government  by  "Commodore"  Cornelius  Vander 
bilt  of  New  York,  as  a  free  gift,  and  as  a  part  of  his  con 
tribution  towards  suppressing  the  ".Rebellion. 

We  found  the  Eighth  Michigan  on  board,  besides  five 
companies  of  the  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania.  The  Michigan 
men,  with  whom  we  were  destined  to  form  a  very  close 
friendship,  were  just  fresh  from  home ;  the  majority  of 
them,  in  fact,  had  never  seen  tide  water  till  they  arrived 
at  Annapolis.  If  the  Highlanders  were  "green"  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Bull  Run  campaign,  the  Michiganders— 
and  this  might  be  said  of  nine-tenths  of  the  troops  which 
formed  the  expedition — were  "  emerald  green  ;"  for  they 
had  not  even  the  experience  of  camp  life  at  the  front.  A 
close  intimacy  sprang  up  between  the  two  organizations, 
which  did  not  terminate  till  we  bade  each  other  good  bye 
•  on  the  field,  when  our  term  of  service  expired. 

The  huge  vessel  was  completely  filled  ;    yes,  crowded. 


90  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  October,, 

One  of  our  companies,  numbering  seventy-six  men,  was 
allotted  forty -eight  bunks ;  consequently  twenty -eight 
men  were  obliged  to  ' '  lie  round  "  as  best  they  could  ;  and 
this  was  the  case  with  nearly  all  the  companies.  Men 
were  quartered  in  the  hold,  and  on  the  decks  ;  even  the 
small  boats,  that  hung  about  the  vessel  or  were  stowed 
away  behind  the  rail,  were  filled  ;  men  everywhere  ;  and 
away  down  below,  guns  and  gun  carriages,  wagons, 
camp  and  garrison  equipage,  cannon  and  muskets,  and 
provisions  for  men,  filled  the  great  vessel  completely. 

Thirty-five  steam  vessels  in  all  composed  the  transport 
fleet.  The  total  force,  amounting  to  about  fifteen  thous 
and  men,  was  distributed  in  three  brigades,  under  com 
mand  respectively  of  Brigadier- Generals  Egbert  L.  Viele, 
Isaac  I.  Stevens,  and  Horatio  G.  Wright.  Our  brigade 
was  composed  of  the  Eighth  Michigan,  Fiftieth,  and  One 
Hundredth  Pennsylvania,  and  Seventy-Ninth  New  York. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  20th  we  sailed,  our  destination 
being  Fort  Monroe,  where  the  naval  vessels  of  the  expe 
dition  were  to  join  us.  When  within  twenty  miles  of 
the  fort,  darkness  overtook  us,  and  we  "were  obliged  to 
cast  anchor  ;  the  lights  along  the  Virginia  shore  had 
been  removed  by  the  enemy,  and  it  was  deemed  unsafe 
to  proceed.  At  about  noon  on  the  21st  we  arrived  at  the 
fort.  Here  we  found  a  large  fleet  of  war  vessels,  from 
the  little  tug-boat  armed  with  a  boat  howitzer,  up  to  the 
majestic  Wabash,  the  flagship  of  the  squadron.  A  large 
number  of  sailing  vessels,  too,  were  ready,  loaded  with 
coal  and  stores  of  various  kinds,  the  huge  four-masted 
ship,  Great  Republic,  looking  like  a  leviathan  as  she  rode 
at  anchor,  surrounded  by  the  small  coasting  sloops  and 
schooners,  each  one  of  which  had  a  more  or  less  im 
portant  part  to  play  in  the  great  enterprise. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  this  was  the  second  of  the 
combined  land  and  naval  expeditions  the  government 
had  fitted  out,  and  the  success  of  the  first,  which  resulted 


i86i.  MOST   IMPROBABLE   YARNS.  91 

in  the  capture  of  Hatteras  Inlet,  led  the  authorities  to 
enter  upon  the  present  one  with  an  assurance  of  perfect 
success. 

The  largest  and  hest  harbor  on  the  south  Atlantic  coast 
was  that  of  Port  Eoyal,  South  Carolina  ;  and  when  the 
choice  was  left  to  Flag  Officer  Dupont  and  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  Fox,  they  decided  that  that  should 
be  the  objective  point.  From  there,  as  a  base  of  opera 
tions,  expeditions  could  be  sent  to  Charleston  or  Savan 
nah,  as  might  be  desired. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  we  were  ignorant  at  this  time 
of  our  destination  ;  the  enemy  was  always  bettes  in 
formed  of  the  intentions  of  our  leaders  than  ourselves— 
thanks  to  the  secret  service  maintained  by  them  to  the 
very  close  of  the  war.  We  lay  at  Fort  Monroe  till  the 
29th,  when,  the  whole  fleet  set  sail,  under  sealed  orders, 
not  to  be  opened  till  a  certain  point  on  our  ocean  voyage 
had  been  reached. 

During  pleasant  weather  the  time  passed  quite  agree 
ably.  It  was  a  common  sight  to  see  an  "old  vet  "  of  our 
regiment  seated  on  a  coil  of  rope,  surrounded  by  a  dozen 
or  more  of  the  Eighth  Michigan,  and  entertaining  them 
with  the  most  improbable  yarns.  They  were  never  tired 
of  listening  to  the  stories  we  had  to  tell  of  our  experience 
in  the  field  ;  and  the  tougher  the  yarn  the  more  readily 
was  it  believed.  They  were  particularly  interested  in  our 
accounts  of  skirmishes,  and  thought  that,  as  they  were 
"all  pretty  good  marksmen,  and  accustomed  to  the 
woods  and  fields,"  they  would  prefer  that  part  of  the 
battle,  while  the  Highlanders  could  follow  up  and  do  the 
"hefty"  fighting.  For  the  sake  of  talk  we  agreed  to 
this.  The  utmost  good  feeling  was  established  between 
us,  which,  however,  did  not  prevent  the  Highlanders 
from  playing  practical  jokes  upon  the  unsophisticated 
Michiganders.  Many  a  time  during  the  voyage,  when  a 
poor  fellow  was  leaning  over  the  vessel's  side  paying 


92  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

tribute  to  Neptune — "one  moment  hoping  he  would  die, 
and  the  next  afraid  he  wouldn't "-  —  some  wag,  with  a 
piece  of  fat  pork  on  the  end  of  a  string  tied  to  a  ramrod, 
would  steal  quietly  behind  the  poor  sufferer  and  dangle 
it  gently  under  his  nose  !  But  when  they  got  well  they 
almost  turned  our  stomachs  !  To  see  them  take  fat 
pork,  cut  it  into  little  chunks,  smear  molasses  over  it, 
and  eat  the  disgusting  mess  with  apparent  relish — ugh  ! 
But  there's  no  accounting  for  tastes,  especially  on  ship 
board. 

Off  Hatteras  we  encountered  a  violent  storm,  which 
lasted  three  days.  The  fleet  was  dispersed,  and  two  of 
the  smaller  vessels  foundered  and  went  to  the  bottom  ; 
all  the  men  on  board  were  saved,  however,  except  seven 
marines.  The  Great  Kepublic,  until  then  in  tow  of  the 
Vanderbilt,  was  sent  adrift  to  shift  for  herself,  and, 
although  deeply  laden  with  horses  and  cattle,  came 
through  safely  under  sail.  To  most  of  us  a  storm  at  sea 
was  a  novelty.  Two  of  our  number  had  taken  up  their 
quarters  in  one  of  the  boats  on  the  port  side  of  the  vessel, 
just  forward  of  the  paddle  box  ;  during  the  early  part 
of  the  storm  they  were  driven  out  by  the  water  which 
dashed  over  the  side.  Many  others  had  been  drowned 
out  of  similar  quarters,  so  that  quite  a  number  were 
without  a  place  to  lay  their  heads.  Two  or  three  of  the 
more  daring  spirits  determined,  however,  to  spend  the 
night  in  the  boats,  and,  after  putting  up  blankets  to  keep 
off  the  spray,  took  possession.  They  had  hardly  settled 
themselves  comfortably  before  a  heavy  sea  washed  over 
the  side,  tore  away  the  blankets  and  filled  the  boats, 
nearly  drowning  the  occupants.  After  scrambling  out, 
they  decided  to  abandon  such  damp  quarters,  at  least 
till  the  storm  was  over.  At  the  end  of  the  third  day  the 
storm  abated,  vessels  began  to  heave  in  sight,  and  we 
were  soon  sailing  on  our  course  again. 

The  4th  of  November  saw  us  at  anchor  off  Port  Royal. 


1 86 1.  MOSQUITO   FLEET.  <>5 

Looking  west  from  where  we  lay,  Hilton  Head  was  on 
our  left,  where  the  strongest  of  the  enemy's  works  were 
situated  ;  on  our  right  was  Bay  Point,  also  strongly  forti 
fied.  The  transports  lay  at  a  safe  distance,  while  the 
naval  vessels  occupied  positions  nearer,  but  yet  out  of 
range  of  the  guns  on  shore.  Columns  of  black  smoke 
were  seen  up  the  harbor,  and  soon  a  fleet  of  small  steam 
vessels  appeared,  but  kept  at  a  respectful  distance, 
watching  our  movements.  One  of  our  light-draft  gun 
boats  ventured  near  and  threw  a  shell  or  two  at  the 
"mosquito"  fleet,  which  soon  beat  a  hasty  retreat  with 
out  returning  the  fire.  The  buoys  had  been  removed 
from  the  channel,  lanterns  taken  from  the  light-houses, 
and  before  active  operations  could  begin  the  channel 
must  be  surveyed  and  marked.  For  this  purpose  ships' 
launches,  protected  by  the  gun-boats,  were  used,  and 
before  evening  the  naval  vessels  were  anchored  inside 
the  bar,  and  Commodore  Tatnalls'  fleet  chased  under 
cover  of  the  shore  batteries.  On  the  5th  a  reconnois- 
sance  was  made  by  the  Ottawa,  Seneca,  Curlew  and 
Isaac  Smith,  which  drew  the  enemy's  fire  and  showed 
where  the  heaviest  batteries  were  located.  All  was  now 
ready  for  the  attack,  but  a  storm  on  the  6th  delayed  the 
movement  till  the  Tth,  when  it  began  about  half -past 
nine. 

It  was  expected  by  us  that  the  troops  would  take  an 
active  part  in  the  assault,  and  just  before  the  action  began 
the  following  order  was  read  to  the  regiment: 

"HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  EXPEDITIONARY 

CORPS,  S.  S.  Vanderbilt,  Nov.  Tth,  1861. 
"GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  5. 

"  The  Brigadier-General  commanding  the  Second  Brig 
ade  trustfully  appeals  to  each  man  of  his  command  this 
day  to  strike  a  signal  blow  for  his  country. 

"She  has  been  stabbed  by  traitorous  hands,  and  by  her 


96  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November,, 

most  favored  sons.  Show  by  your  acts  that  the  hero  age 
has  not  passed  away,  and  that  patriotism  still  lives. 
Better  to  fall  nobly  in  the  forlorn  hope,  in  vindication 
of  home  and  nationality,  than  live  witnesses  of  the  tri 
umph  of  a  sacreligious  cause.  The  Lord  Grod  of  Battles 
will  direct  us;  to  Him  let  us  humbly  appeal  this  day  to 
vouchsafe  to  us  His  crowning  mercy,  and  may  those  of 
us  who  survive  when  the  evening  sun  goes  down  ascribe 
to  Him,  and  not  to  ourselves,  the  glorious  victory. 

By  order  of        BRIGADIER-GENERAL  STEVENS." 

The  war  vessels  had  "taken  off  their  jackets,"  top-gal 
lant  masts  had  been  sent  down,  yards  braced,  nettings 
hung,  and  the  sides  of  many  protected  by  chains.  Com 
modore  Dupont  led  the  assault,  in  the  Wabash,  at  the 
head  of  the  First  division,  and  was  followed  by  the  Sus- 
quehanna,  Mohican,  Pawnee,  Unadilla,  Seminole,  and 
several  others.  This  division  passed  up  the  centre  of  the 
channel  delivering  their  fire  at  the  rebel  works  on  each 
side  of  the  harbor,  then  turned  and  passed  within  short 
range  of  the  batteries  on  Hilton  Head,  firing  slowly  but 
effectively.  The  Second  division,  composed  of  five  smaller 
vessels,  the  Beinville,  Augusta,  Seneca,  Curlew  and  Pen 
guin,  now  passed  up  close  to  Bay  Point,  pouring  their 
broadsides  into  Fort  Beauregard,  and  then  took  their 
stations  in  such  positions  as  to  cut  off  Tatnall's  fleet  from 
any  participation  in  the  battle,  and  at  the  same  time 
maintain  a  heavy  fire  on  the  left  flank  of  the  rebel 
iiitrenchments  on  Hilton  Head. 

The  First  division  on  its  second  circuit,  sailed  in  the 
form  of  an  ellipse,  getting  closer  to  Bay  Point,  and  on 
the  third  round  was  joined  by  other  vessels,  until  twelve 
of  them  were  pouring  in  shot  and  shell  as  long  as  they 
remained  within  range.  At  times  the  roar  of  the  big 
guns  was  terrific.  The  forts  were  not  idle  and  at  first 
their  guns  were  well  served,  as  shot  after  shot  in  the 


i86i.  THE  FORTS  WERE  SILENCED.  97 

hulls  and  spars  of  the  vessels  testified ;  the  shot  would 
often  strike  the  water  short  of  the  vessels  and  ricochet 
over  the  surface,  sending  up  clouds  of  water  at  every 
bound,  until  they  found  a  berth  in  a  wooden  hull  or 
their  force  was  spent  and  they  sank  into  the  water. 
Frequently  the  scene  was  obscured  for  a  time  by  the 
dense  smoke,  and  we  clambered  up  the  rigging  in  order 
to  get  a  better  view  ;  the  most  intense  interest  prevailed 
among  the  troops.  All  the  available  ships  boats  lay  at 
the  vessels'  sides,  ready  to  be  manned  at  a  moment's 
notice  —  the  men  were  under  arms,  knapsacks  were 
packed,  and  everything  in  readiness  for  a  sudden  move. 

The  difficulty  of  landing  on  the  beach  from  small 
boats,  and  in  the  face  of  such  a  deadly  fire,  was  thought 
to  be  too  much  of  a  risk,  however,  unless  other  means 
failed.  This  was  the  first  engagement  where  war  ves 
sels  took  part  that  we  had  ever  witnessed,  and  we 
watched  every  movement  with  the  greatest  interest. 
When  a  particularly  heavy  discharge  was  heard — as  the 
Wabash  or  some  other  large  vessel  sent  in  a  broadside— 
we  would  watch  anxiously  to  see  if  the  forts  were  not 
silenced,  and  when  they  in  turn  poured  forth  their  iron 
hail  we  would  look  to  see  the  splinters  fly  on  board  the 
ships. 

About  four  o'clock,  just  after  the  third  circuit  had  been 
sailed,  we  noticed  that  the  firing  from  the  forts  had  almost 
ceased.  Soon  the  word  was  passed  that  the  forts  were 
silenced  ;  then  a  small  boat  was  seen  to  approach  the  land 
at  Hilton  Head,  and  shortly  after  the  joyful  news  was 
proclaimed  that  the  stars  and  stripes  were  floating  from 
the  flag  staff,  where  so  lately  had  hung  the  stars  and  bars! 
Such  a  cheer  as  went  up  from  our  throats,  when  we  knew 
the  place  was  ours  !  The  band  played  "  The  Star  Span 
gled  Banner,"  "  Hail  Columbia,"  and  "Yankee  Doodle  ;" 
and  how  we  cheered  the  jolly  Jack  Tars,  the  Wabash, 
and  other  vessels,  and  an  hour  later,  when  one  of  the 

7 


98  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

gun  boats  passed  close  to  our  vessel,  and  the  crew  dis 
played  the  captured  rebel  flag,  our  enthusiasm  knew  no 
bounds  !  The  enemy  had  fled,  leaving  behind  his  sick 
and  wounded. 

We  remained  on  board  ship  all  night,  and  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  8th  the  light -draft  steamer  Winfield  Scott  came 
alongside  and  took  us  from  the  Vanderbilt  to  within  half 
a  mile  of  the  shore  at  Bay  Point,  where  we  entered  small 
boats  and  were  rowed  towards  the  shore  till  the  keels 
struck  bottom,  when  we  jumped  out  and  waded  to  dry 
land.  The  beach  inclines  so  gently  here  that  the  boats 
could  not  get  nearer  than  fifty  yards.  The  various  com 
panies  were  soon  distributed  about  the  Point,  some  in 
buildings,  others  in  tents,  of  which  there  was  a  large 
number  of  the  A  pattern.  We  found  the  fort  and  bat 
teries  very  little  damaged  by  the  bombardment,  and  the 
enemy  had  evidently  been  more  frightened  than  hurt ;  a 
few  of  the  guns  had  been  spiked,  but  so  ineffectually  that 
we  soon  had  them  in  condition  for  service  again. 

The  day  was  spent  in  looking  about  us,  arranging  our 
quarters  and  congratulating  ourselves  on  being  on  mother 
earth  once  more.  We  found  an  abundance  of  provisions 
and  light  summer  clothing,  some  fire  arms,  and  any 
quantity  of  murderous-looking,  home-made  Bowie  knives, 
hammered  out  of  large  flat  files,  pieces  of  scythes,  and 
such  like.  Terrible  weapons  they  were,  and  in  the  hands 
of  determined  men  would  no  doubt  have  done  fearful 
execution  on  us  Yankees,  if  their  owners  had  only  waited 
for  us  to  come  on  shore.  Evidences  of  a  hasty  retreat 
were  seen  on  all  sides  ;  arms,  accoutrements  and  clothing 
lay  scattered  about ;  the  tents  were  filled  with  provisions 
and  many  of  the  delicacies  of  the  cuisine  ;  coffee  and  bis 
cuit  were  found  on  the  yet  warm  fire-places,  and  we  par 
took  of  the  refreshments,  without  fear  of  either  arsenic 
or  strychnine. 

Fort  Beauregard,  which  we  re-named  Fort  Seward,  the 


1 86 1.  THE   SUNNY   SOUTH.  99 

principal  work  on  the  Point,  mounted  nineteen  guns,  all 
of  heavy  caliber  ;  but  not  more  than  half  of  these  had 
been  used  in  the  engagement,  the  others  having  been 
placed  to  defend  points  out  of  range  of  the  fleet ;  the 
garrison  had  consisted  of  six  companies  of  the  Twelfth 
South  Carolina  Volunteers  and  several  other  independent 
companies,  in  all  about  six  hundred  and  fifty  men,  under 
command  of  Colonel  R.  GL  M.  Dunovant,  of  the  Twelfth. 

The  9th  was  spent  in  still  further  securing  our  comfort, 
washing  clothes,  and  bathing  in  the  salt  water — some 
thing  unusual  with  us  at  this  time  of  the  year — for  the 
days  were  yet  very  warm  ;  the  nights,  however,  being 
cool  enough  for  overcoats  and  blankets.  To  those  who 
had  been  spending  all  their  lives  north  of  the  forty-first 
parallel,  the  change  to  the  thirty-third  was  something 
wonderful.  The  luxuriance  of  the  vegetation,  even  at 
this  late  season,  astonished  us  ;  we  were  now  indeed  in 
the  "Sunny  South,"  and  our  heavy  uniform  jackets  and 
woolen  pantaloons  were  laid  aside,  for  the  lighter  cloth 
ing  so  considerately  left  behind  by  the  enemy.  We 
missed  the  clear,  sparkling  streams  of  Virginia,  however, 
and  were  obliged  to  content  ourselves  with  the  brackish 
water  obtained  by  sinking  a  barrel  three  or  four  feet 
below  the  surface  of  the  ground  ;  into  this  receptacle  the 
water  would  settle  to  the  depth  of  three  or  four  inches  ;  but 
even  this  supply  was  at  times  quite  limited,  and  we  often 
wished  for  a  drink  of  good  clear,  sparkling  water. 

Among  the  "military"  stores  found  here  were  two 
casks  of  whiskey,  and,  by  an  oversight,  of  which  the 
Highlanders  were  not  often  guilty,  the  fact  became 
known  to  Post  Quartermaster  Lilly,  whose  headquarters 
were  at  Hilton  Head,  and  who,  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the 
important  capture,  sent  a  detail  of  men  to  transport  the 
"commissary"  to  his  own  side  of  the  harbor.  It  was 
known,  an  hour  or  two  beforehand,  that  the  transfer  had 
been  ordered  ;  the  casks  were  duly  delivered  and  conveyed 


100  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

to  Hilton  Head,  but  when  Quartermaster  Lilly  tapped  the 
barrels  to  sample  the  fluid  he  found  nothing  but  salt  wa 
ter  !  Of  course  no  one  knew  by  what  means  the  chemi 
cal  change  had  been  effected,  and  the  matter  became  a 
standing  joke.  Whenever  the  Quartermaster  appeared 
among  us,  some  one  was  sure  to  start  the  query  ' c  Who 
stole  the  whiskey?"  "Quartermaster  Lilly,"  would  be 
the  response  from  many  an  unseen  speaker.  Lilly  did 
not  forget  us,  and  often  afterwards  enjoyed  the  joke 
when  telling  it  to  others. 

On  the  10th  a  party  was  sent  out  to  survey  the  island 
and  gather  such  information  as  might  be  of  service  in 
future  operations.  We  found  the  island  to  be  covered 
with  swamps  and  tangled  underbrush,  except  a  narrow 
strip  along  the  coast  side  where  the  earth  works  and 
camps  were  located,  and  even  this  was  clear  sand,  entirely 
barren  save  for  the  few  clumps  of  beach  grass  scattered 
about.  We  found  a  number  of  negroes  hid  in  the 
swamps  who,  when  they  found  we  were  their  friends, 
instead  of  the  deadly  enemies  their  masters  had  portrayed 
us,  came  into  our  lines  and  gave  valuable  information 
respecting  the  surrounding  country.  Their  replies  to  our 
questions  about  the  retreat  of  the  rebels  were  amusing  : 
"  De  hoss  sojers  dey  got  a  goin  fust,  den  de  foot  sojers, 
dey  got  a  goin,  den  Massa  got  a  goin,  and  he's  goin  yit ! " 

With  some  of  the  negroes  to  pilot  us,  our  investigations 
were  soon  extended  to  the  neighboring  islands,  and 
especially  to  St.  Helena,  the  largest  and  most  fertile  of 
all  the  group  of  Sea  Islands  ;  there  we  found  a  number 
of  plantations  with  good  substantial  dwelling  houses,  the 
mansions  of  the  planters,  with  the  usual  accompaniment 
of  negro  cabins  or  "  quarters,"  as  they  were  called.  The 
plantation  of  Dr.  Jenkins,  lying  as  it  did  on  the  direct 
route  of  retreat  of  the  enemy  to  Beaufort,  was  the  most 
important  point  on  the  island  and  a  detachment  was  sent 
to  permanently  occupy  the  place.  A  scarcity  of  boats 


i86i.  DEM  BIG  HOUSE  BOATS.  101 

prevented  us  from  sending  out  large  parties,  and  those 
who  did  go,  went  armed  to  the  teeth,  as  we  knew  not 
what  traps  might  be  laid  for  us  by  the  enemy. 

Captain  More,  who  seemed  to  be  the  engineer  of  the 
regiment,  attempted  to  build  a  road  from  the  camp  on 
Bay  Point  directly  across  the  island  to  a  point  oppo 
site  Dr.  Jenkins'  plantation,  but  after  working  a  whole 
day  the  project  was  abandoned  as  impracticable;  at 
least  a  dozen  bridges  within  a  length  of  two  miles 
would  be  necessary,  and  he  thought  it  would  n't  pay  ; 
so  the  longest  way  round  by  the  beach  was  found  to  be 
the  shorter  and  better  road.  When  out  scouting  we 
found  our  greatest  trouble  to  be  the  lack  of  drinking 
water,  that  carried  in  our  canteens  from  camp  soon 
becoming  hike-warm  and  unfit  to  drink  ;  as  we  were 
never  very  far  from  the  salt  water  however,  we  adopted 
the  expedient  of  stripping  off  our  clothes  and  plunging 
into  that  whenever  we  were  thirsty  ;  after  remaining  a 
few  minutes  our  thirst  would  be  appeased ;  this  might 
be  repeated  a  dozen  times  a  day,  and  while  the  operation 
occupied  a  good  deal  of  time  it  was  the  only  means  at 
our  command  to  satisfy  our  necessities. 

Pursuing  our  investigations  on  St.  Helena  Island  we 
found  large  numbers  of  negroes,  cattle,  pigs  and  poultry, 
with  corn  and  sweet  potatoes  in  abundance.  The  own 
ers  had  left  in  such  a  hurry  that  we  found  the  tables  set 
as  if  for  the  family  repast ;  nothing  appeared  to  be  dis 
turbed,  the  darkies  being  under  strict  dicipline  not  hav 
ing  entered  their  masters'  houses.  Articles  of  clothing  lay 
scattered  about,  as  though  the  owners  had  made  a  hasty 
selection  of  what  they  wanted  to  put  on,  leaving  all  else 
behind.  We  gathered  the  negroes  about  us  and  ques 
tioned  them  regarding  their  masters  :  "  Massadone  gone 
run  away!"  "Massa  run  away  so  fast  he  leaf  his 
pants  behine  !  v  "When  massa  see  dem  big  house  boats 
dey  git  skeered  ! "  "  Golly  !  Did  n't  dem  big  rotten  shot 


102  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

skeer  us  !  "  (The  negroes  called  the  large  vessels  "  House 
boats,"  and  the  big  shells  "  Eotten  shot"  from  the  fact 
of  their  bursting  in  the  air  or  on  the  ground.)  Not  a 
white  person  was  to  be  found,  all  having  gone  towards 
Beaufort  and  from  there  inland  to  be  out  of  reach  of  the 
feared  and  hated  Yankees.  The  negroes  had  heard  of 
"  Massa  Linkum,"  and  we  were  all  designated  as  "Massa 
Liiikum's  Sojers."  They  wanted  to  know  when  "  Massa 
Linkum "  was  coming  ;  they  seemed  to  think  he  was 
near  by,  and  were  anxious  to  see  the  man  they  had  been 
taught  to  fear,  but  whom  they  now  discovered  to  be 
their  friend. 

We  conversed  freely  with  the  overseers  whom  we 
found  to  be  more  intelligent  than  the  average,  and  asked 
a  great  many  questions  about  the  "  peculiar  institution  " 
of  slavery.  We  found  that  their  allowance  of  food  was 
a  peck  of  unground  corn  per  week  for  each  one  over 
seventeen  years  of  age,  and  a  proportionate  amount  for 
the  younger  ones  ;  this  was  enough,  they  said,  and  was 
sometimes  supplemented  with  a  little  rice  and  molasses  ; 
they  were  allowed  to  raise  a  pig  and  some  few  garden 
vegetables  but  no  poultry.  (This  fact  may  explain  why 
a  hen-roost  always  has  such  a  peculiar  fascination  for  the 
average  darkey.)  The  cabins  were  substantial  and  built 
"  double,"  and  between  each  pair  of  tenements  was 
placed  the  rude  hand-mill  for  grinding  the  corn.  In  the 
evening  when  the  day's  work  in  the  field  was  over,  the 
women  would  grind  the  corn,  accompanying  their  work 
with  a  low  monotonous  chant  ;  on  a  quiet  night,  when  a 
dozen  or  more  of  these  mills  were  in  operation,  the  effect 
was  peculiar  ;  it  reminded  us  of  the  stories  we  had  read 
of  Voodo  charms  and  incantations  ;  occasionally  one 
voice  would  rise  higher  that  the  others,  and  begin  a  dif 
ferent  tune — the  others  joining  in  the  refrain — to  us 
however  the  "tunes"  were  all  alike,  and  seemed  very 
melancholy. 


i86i.  THE   LASH  103 

We  were  shown  the  ' '  lash  "  or  whip  used  by  master 
or  overseer  to  correct  delinquents  and  enforce  obedience, 
and  one  of  these,  a  formidable  looking  weapon,  was 
secured  as  a  souvenir. 


104  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 


CHAPTER   VII. 

ST.  HELENA  ISLAND.— PORT  ROYAL  FERRY. 

ORANGES,  Bitter  and  Sweet. —  A  Little  Logic. — Letters  from  Home. — Celebration 
of  St.  Andrew's  Day.— A  Weak  Brother.— Lieut.-Col.  Nobles.— The  High 
landers  Acclimated. — Mortality  in  Other  Regiments. — Occupation  of  Beau 
fort. — Allen,  the  Last  White  Man,  a  Massachusetts  Yankee. — Port  Royal 
Ferry. — The  Line  of  the  Coosaw. — An  Ugly  Visitor. — Charleston  Highland 
ers. — Preparing  for  a  Visit  to  the  Mainland. — The  Expedition. — A  New 
Year's  Call  .—The  Engagement.— "  Sandy  "  Graham.— The  "Gallant  Eighth." 
— The  Enemy  Driven  Back. — Capture  of  the  Earth-work. — Extracts  from 
Reports. — "  Fa'  in  for  your  Whuskey." — Earth-works  and  Buildings  Destroyed. 
— Return  to  Beaufort. 

one  of  our  excursions  we  discovered  an  orange  tree 
heavily  laden.  We  could  not  stop  then  to  examine 
the  unusual  sight,  or  taste  what  appeared  to  be  the  lus 
cious  fruit,  but  shortly  after  we  came  to  a  grove  where 
many  of  the  trees  hung  thick,  and,  without  stopping  to 
taste,  soon  had  the  ground  littered  with  the  golden  globes. 
Then  some  one  took  a  bite.  Ugh  !  what  bitter  oranges  ! 
Sure  enough,  we  had  attacked  a  seedling  tree  ;  the  fruit 
was  bitter — nauseous.  With  mouths  stretched  from  ear 
to  ear,  the  darkies  stood  grinning  at  us,  enjoying  the 
joke  ;  but  they  soon  led  us  to  some  "sweet"  trees,  where 
we  filled  our  bellies  and  haversacks,  too. 

Geese,  turkeys,  pigs  and  chickens  were  killed  and  eaten 
whenever  we  wanted  them.  At  first  we  paid  the  darkies 
for  these,  but,  on  thinking  the  matter  over — when  our  cash 
began  to  run  short — we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  that 
would  never  do  :  these  things  did  not  belong  to  the  negroes 


i86i.  ST.  ANDREW'S  DAY.  105 

but  to  their  masters  ;  their  masters  were  the  enemies  of 
the  government,  and  had  run  away,  leaving  their  prop 
erty  behind  ;  by  all  the  rules  of  war  the  abandoned  prop 
erty  belonged  to  the  victors — to  us  ;  so,  whenever  we 
wanted  anything  after  that,  the  darkies  would  be  ordered 
to  kill  and  cook,  and  we  paid  them  for  their  labor,  as  long 
as  our  money  lasted.  Five  cents  became  the  standard 
amount  paid  for  such  service  ;  and  it  seemed  as  though 
the  darkies  knew  no  other  sum,  for  when  they  brought  in 
oranges  or  oysters  they  were  sold  in  ' '  five  cents' "  worth  ; 
a  dozen  oranges  or  a  quart  of  ' '  solid  meats  "  were  cheap 
at  that  price.  For  the  few  weeks  that  we  remained  in 
this  neighborhood,  we  fared  better  than  soldiers  ever  did 
before  or  since  ;  we  were  literally  "  in  clover,"  and  many 
of  us  no  doubt  made  pigs  of  ourselves. 

On  the  llth  the  first  mail,,  since  leaving  Annapolis, 
arrived,  and  we  were  all  rejoiced  at  hearing  from  our  dear 
ones  at  home.  While  not  given  to  letter- writing  as  much 
as  some  other  regiments,  still,  our  mail  bag  was  generally 
well  filled  when  it  left  camp,  and  several  of  our  number 
were  heavy  contributors  to  the  unpublished  history  of 
the  war. 

On  the  30th  the  officers  celebrated  St.  Andrew's  day, 
and  invited  the  officers  of  H.  B.  M.  sloop  of  war  Immor- 
talite,  then  lying  in  the  harbor,  to  help  them  do  honor  to 
the  memory  of  their  patron  saint.  When  the  "cloth" 
was  removed — or  should  have  been,  had  the  mess-table 
been  graced  by  such  an  unusual  luxury — the  bottle  began 
its  rounds,  and  by  midnight  hosts  and  guests  were  in  a 
very  mellow  frame  of  mind.  A  rather  weak-headed  offi 
cer  had  forgotten  to  retire  "with  the  ladies,"  and  when 
the  "wee  sma'  hours  ayont  the  twal"  arrived,  he  was  in 
a  decidedly  maudlin  condition.  As  nature  began  to  assert 
her  rights  the  poor  fellow  staggered  to  his  feet  and  at 
tempted  to  walk  out.  The  rest  of  the  story  is  told  by  the 
sentry  who  happened  to  be  posted  at  the  mess-room  door  : 


106  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

"  I  heard  some  one  fumbling  about  the  door,  as  if  trying 
to  open  it ;  so  I  turned  the  knob,  and  as  the  door  swung 
open  -  -  almost  fell  into  my  arms.  I  saw  at  a  glance 
that  he  not  only  had  a  '  wee  drap  in  his  e'e,'  but  that  he 
was  'fou','  so  full,  in  fact,  that  it  was  running  down  his 
trowsers  and  trickling  in  a  little  stream  across  the  porch  ; 
I  called  for  help,  and  poor  old  -  -  was  escorted  to  his 
quarters." 

A  few  days  afterwards  he  resigned,  and  while  await 
ing  transportation  home,  news  of  rebel  cruisers  capturing 
our  merchantmen  and  rendering  the  passage  north  ex 
ceedingly  dangerous,  was  received  in  camp,  and  his  brother 
officers  did  not  fail  to  make  the  unfortunate  one  ac 
quainted  with  all  the  details — and  more  too.  They 
warned  him  of  the  dangers  of  such  a  voyage,  and  tried 
to  make  it  pleasant  for  him.  The  poor  fellow  was  a  great 
coward,  and  this  fresh  danger  appalled  him.  He  dared 
not  remain  and  feared  to  go,  and  between  these  conflict 
ing  emotions  his  life  for  a  few  days  was  a  burden  to  him. 
Shunned  and  despised  by  both  officers  and  men,  his  lot 
was  a  sad  one,  and  he  finally  decided  to  run  the  risk  of 
the  cruisers,  as  being  the  lesser  evil.  As  he  walked  down 
to  the  boat  that  was  to  convey  him  to  the  steamer,  some 
waggish  musicians  struck  up  the  "  Eogues'  March."  It 
was  rather  rough  on  the  poor  fellow,  but  he  was  so  com 
pletely  upset  with  his  disgrace  that  he  probably  did 
not  notice  the  compliment.  He  returned  home  a  sadder, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  a  wiser,  man. 

While  on  the  voyage  down  the  coast,  Mr.  Wm.  Nobles, 
a  friend  of  General  Stevens,  had  been  appointed  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  of  the  regiment.  He  was  not  a  military  man, 
however,  and  finding  that  the  duties  of  the  office  were 
not  congenial,  he  resigned  on  the  6th.  As  he  had  never 
been  in  actual  command  of  the  regiment,  his  loss  was 
not  felt. 

The  health  of  the  regiment  during  the  early  days  of 


!86i.  A  PLUG  OF  TOBACCO.  107 

December  was  excellent  ;  we  had  been  "down  South" 
about  a  month  and  were  fast  becoming  acclimated. 
While  the  men  of  other  regiments  on  Hilton  Head  were 
filling  the  hospitals  with  cases  of  fever  and  dysentery, 
but  one  patient  was  in  our  regimental  hospital,  and  he 
was  sick  before  leaving  Virginia.  The  health  of  our  men 
was  attributed  to  the  fact  that  they  took  excellent  care 
of  their  persons,  bathing  frequently  in  the  salt  water, 
and  abstaining  from  the  use  of  the  canned  goods  sold  by 
the  sutlers.  It  was  a  common  remark  that  a  High 
lander  could  always  be  picked  out  of  a  crowd  at  the  sut 
ler's  store  ;  for,  while  others  were  calling  for  the  delicacies 
which  made  them  sick,  the  men  of  the  Seventy-Ninth 
were  satisfied  with  a  plug  of  tobacco.  The  mortality 
among  the  troops  on  Hilton  Head  was  so  great  that 
funerals  were  discontinued  and  the  dead  buried  quietly  at 
night.  Not  a  death  occurred  among  us  while  we  were  at 
Bay  Point. 

On  the  llth  the  brigade,  with  a  part  of  our  regiment, 
occupied  Beaufort.  We  had  heard  of  Allen,  the  solitary 
white  man  left  in  the  place,  and  no  little  curiosity  was 
manifested  to  see  the  "  last  man  ; "  we  found  him  to  be 
a  northerner  by  birth — a  Massachusetts  Yankee — and  a 
store-keeper.  What  little  stock  he  had  left,  sold  at  a 
high  figure  after  our  arrival,  and  no  doubt  the  thrifty 
merchant  made  a  good  deal  more  money  by  remaining 
than  by  following  the  fortunes  of  his  friends  and  neigh 
bors.  When  communication  with  the  North  was  estab 
lished,  Allen  bought  goods  and  continued  his  business. 
We  got  our  tents  up  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
but  had  little  time  to  look  about  us  before  dark  ;  we 
retired  early,  but  about  eleven  o'clock  were  turned  out 
and  ordered  to  fall  in,  in  light  marching  order.  We 
were  soon  on  the  road,  but  the  night  was  so  dark  we 
could  not  tell  the  direction  of  the  march.  About  three 
o'clock  the  next  morning  we  reached  a  point  near  Port 


108  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

Eoyal  Ferry,  which  connects  Beaufort  Island  with  the 
main  land.  This  was  the  place  where  the  rebel  troops 
and  citizens  had  crossed  during  their  retreat,  the  Charles 
ton  and  Savannah  Eailroad  being  only  a  few  miles 
beyond.  The  ferry  was  just  ten  miles  from  the  town  of 
Beaufort.  On  arriving  at  our  destination  we  lay  down 
for  two  or  three  hours'  rest,  but  were  up  and  looking 
about  us  as  soon  as  daylight  appeared.  The  darkies  soon 
arrived,  bringing  in  oysters  which  they  gathered  only  at 
low  tide  ;  their  method  of  opening  the  bivalves  detracted 
somewhat  from  their  flavor  for  raw  oysters  ;  the  negroes 
could  not  be  induced  to  use  the  knife,  claiming  it  hurt 
their  hands  !  Their  method  was  to  heat  water  in  a  caul 
dron  and  then  plunge  the  oysters  in  that,  the  result 
being  a  sort  of  par-boiling,  but  we  were  not  very  fasti 
dious. 

On  the  15th  that  portion  of  the  regiment  which  had 
been  left  behind  on  St.  Helena  Island  joined  us ;  we 
picketed  the  Coosaw  river  for  a  distance  of  about  five 
miles,  from  the  Brickyard  on  the  right  to  Seabrook  plan 
tation  on  the  left,  Port  Royal  Ferry  being  about  the 
center  of  the  line. 

We  could  observe  the  enemy  actively  employed  on  the 
main-land,  erecting  batteries  and  mounting  guns,  but 
our  artillery  had  not  arrived  and  the  rebels  were  too  far 
off  to  be  reached  by  our  muskets  ;  they  were  allowed  to 
work  uninterruptedly  till  the  18th,  when  one  of  our 
small  gunboats  made  its  appearance,  and  fired  a  few 
large  shells,  just  by  way  of  a  reminder.  Whew  !  How 
the  rebs  scattered  !  A  few,  however,  stuck  to  their  fort, 
and  just  as  the  gunboat  was  opposite  the  Causeway,  and 
within  point  blank  range,  they  fired  two  or  three  shots, 
one  of  which,  a  thirty-two  pounder,  flew  clear  over  the 
vessel,  struck  the  causeway  and  came  bounding  along 
into  the  road  where  we  lay  ;  the  visitor  was  given  a  wide 
berth  till  all  danger  from  an  explosion  was  over,  and 


i86i.  CHARLESTON   HIGHLANDERS.  109 

then  the  shell  was  picked  up  and  finally  brought  to 
Beaufort  as  a  trophy. 

Our  duty  at  the  ferry  was  comparatively  light,  and 
when  the  Highlanders  were  on  post  there  was  very  little 
picket  firing.  We  learned  that  there  was  a  battalion  of 
Charleston  Highlanders  on  the  main-land,  and  a  sort  of 
armed  neutrality  was  observed  when  we  were  on  outpost 
duty.  Some  of  the  other  regiments  were  not  so  fortu 
nate,  and  a  good  deal  of  sharp  shooting  occurred  at  times. 
On  the  25th  the  regiment  skirmished  through  a  large 
part  of  the  island  bordering  on  Coosaw  river  ;  the  woods 
were  very  thick  and  some  of  the  men  were  lost  and  did 
not  return  to  camp  till  the  next  day. 

Near  the  end  of  the  month  our  camp  was  agitated  by 
rumors  of  an  early  advance  to  the  main-land  ;  we  had 
become  tired  of  inaction,  and  as  the  island  did  not  sup 
ply  our  commissariat  as  well  as  St.  Helena  had  done,  we 
were  glad  of  any  movement  that  would  serve  to  con 
tribute  to  our  larder  or  bring  relief  to  the  monotony  of 
camp  life.  It  had  been  determined  between  Generals 
Sherman  and  Stevens  to  destroy  the  enemy's  works,  the 
movement  to  be  executed  on  New  Year's  day.  In  accord 
ance  with  this  decision,  General  Sherman,  on  the  30th, 
wrote  Stevens,  giving  him  general  instructions  regarding 
the  movement,  and  in  closing  his  letter  said  :  "It  must 
be  understood,  however,  General,  that  the  object  of  this 
dash  is  simply  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  batteries, 
and  no  advance  must  be  made  beyond  what  is  necessary 
to  effect  that  object." 

General  Stevens'  plan  was  to  land  his  forces  at  three 
different  points,  under  cover  of  the  gunboats  sent  up 
from  Hilton  Head,  which  were  to  approach  the  enemy's 
position  from  opposite  directions  ;  the  right  wing,  con 
sisting  of  seven  companies  of  the  Highlanders,  the  Eighth 
Michigan,  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  and  the  Forty-Seventh 
and  Forty-Eighth  New  York — the  two  last-named  regi- 


110  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

ments  having  been  sent  up  from  Hilton  Head  for  that 
occasion — were  to  start  from  a  point  near  the  Brickyard, 
on  flat  boats,  cross  over  to  the  main-land,  and  then 
march  down  the  bank  of  the  river  and  assail  the  left 
flank  of  the  enemy  ;  this  was  the  most  important  part  of 
the  expedition,  and  was  to  be  under  the  personal  com 
mand  of  General  Stevens.  The  center,  under  Colonel 
Leasure,  of  the  Eoundheads,  consisted  of  four  companies 
of  his  own,  besides  Company  K  of  the  Highlanders, 
under  Lieutenant  Marshall ;  their  station  was  at  the 
ferry,  where  they  were  to  watch  the  movements  of  the 
enemy  and  act  as  circumstances  might  warrant.  The 
left  wing  consisted  of  Companies  F  and  I  of  the  Seventy- 
Ninth  and  B  and  C  of  the  Eoundheads,  the  whole  under 
command  of  Captain  Elliot,  of  the  Highlanders  ;  their 
station  was  at  Seabrook  Ferry.  They  were  to  land  and 
destroy  the  enemy's  works  in  their  front. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  31st  our  men  were  relieved  from 
picket  duty,  and  companies  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  G,  and  H,  in 
light  marching  order  and  with  sixty  rounds  of  ammuni 
tion  per  man,  marched  to  the  appointed  rendezvous,  and 
there  remained  till  an  hour  or  so  before  daylight  on  the 
morning  of  the  New  Year,  when  we  embarked  on  the 
flat  boats,  a  large  number  of  which  had  been  provided  for 
the  purpose.  As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see  our 
way  the  flotilla  started. 

We  expected  to  make  a  landing  on  the  main-land  in 
the  face  of  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  and  we  knew 
not  how  many  of  us  would  answer  the  next  roll-call. 
The  belief — how  it  came  to  be  established  is  not  known— 
that  we  were  acting  in  concert  with  our  armies  in  other 
parts  of  the  country  made  us  feel  that  we  must  succeed. 
If  there  were  any  of  our  number  fearful  of  the  result  of 
our  enterprise  they  did  not  show  it.  As  the  boats 
rounded  the  Brick-yard  Point  and  moved  into  the  broad 
waters  of  the  river,  we  noticed  a  gun -boat  anchored  in 


1862.  THE   COOL   REPLY.  Ill 

the  stream  ;  our  progress  was  very  slow,  the  boats  were 
heavy  unwieldy  affairs,  and  propelled  by  only  two  oars 
each  ;  as  we  gained  sight  of  the  opposite  shore  we  looked 
eagerly  to  see  the  expected  enemy  but  none  were  in 
sight. 

General  Stevens,  accompanied  by  his  son,  sat  in  the  bow 
of  the  leading  boat,  with  one  of  our  regimental  colors  in 
his  hands,  and  with  them  was  Captain  John  More  and 
ten  picked  men,  ready  to  spring  on  shore  as  soon  as  the 
boat  touched  the  land.  General  Stevens  was  the  first  to 
set  foot  on  the  shore  and  plant  our  colors  on  the  main 
land  of  South  Carolina,  he  was  immediately  followed  by 
Captain  More  and  his  men,  and  they  had  hardly  formed 
in  line  when  a  volley  of  musketry  was  fired  at  them  by 
a  picket  guard  of  the  enemy,  who  were  concealed  among 
the  bushes.  Captain  More  ordered  a  charge  by  his  little 
band  and  the  rebels  took  to  their  heels  ;  meanwhile  the 
balance  of  the  regiment  had  landed,  line  was  formed,  and 
companies  D  and  E  under  command  of  Captain  More 
deployed  on  the  skirmish  line.  A  boat -howitzer  manned 
by  a  crew  from  the  gun -boat  attended  us,  and  the  advance 
began  towards  the  fort  opposite  the  ferry. 

We  had  proceeded  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  when  our 
skirmish  line  began  to  speak  ;  the  right  of  the  advance 
had  neared  a  strip  of  woods  in  which  the  rebels  were 
concealed,  and  we  were  soon  treated  to  a  dose  of 
Shrapnel.  A  number  of  shells  were  also  fired  at  the 
main  line  in  our  rear,  the  pieces  of  iron  striking  uncom 
fortably  near  us  ;  one  fragment  just  grazed  the  shoulder 
of  Lieutenant  Graham.  "  That  came  near  finishing  you, 
Sandy,"  said  a  brother  officer.  "Aye  mon,  it  did  come 
gie  near  me,  but  they'll  hae  to  shoot  better  nor  that,  afore 
they  kill  Sandy  Graham,"  was  the  cool  reply.  We  found 
that  our  boat-howitzer  was  useless,  its  range  being  too 
short  to  reach  the  woods,  but  the  gun-boat  threw  shells 
in  front  of  our  skirmish  line,  and  as  they  burst  near 


112  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

where  the  enemy  were  stationed,  we  imagined  that  they 
did  terrible  execution. 

Finding  the  enemy  was  in  strong  force  on  our  right  the 
skirmish  line  was  recalled,  and  General  Stevens  ordered 
the  Eighth  Michigan,  supported  by  the  Forty -Eighth 
New  York  and  a  detatchment  from  the  Fiftieth  Pennsylva 
nia,  to  dislodge  them.  As  this  was  the  first  time  the 
Eighth  had  ever  been  under  fire,  we  watched  anxiously 
to  see  how  they  would  behave.  Deploying  a  skirmish 
line,  the  Michiganders,  with  a  ringing  cheer,  charged  into 
the  woods  and  drove  the  enemy  out ;  their  action  proved 
that  we  had  nothing  to  fear  on  their  account.  They  were 
veterans  already,  and  our  hearty  cheers  showed  them 
that  their  conduct  was  all  that  could  be  desired. 

The  troops  were  now  recalled  from  their  successfully 
accomplished  mission  and  took  their  place  in  line  ;  com 
panies  D  and  H  of  the  Highlanders  were  sent  out  to  form 
a  new  skirmish  line  and  the  advance  was  continued. 
Beginning  with  this  point  Major  Morrison  says  in  his 
report  :  "  I  continued  to  advance,  and  took  up  a  position 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  fort  and  rested  for  some  time 
until  I  received  orders  to  advance  and  occupy  the  fort, 
which  had  already  been  taken  possession  of  by  my  skir 
mishers,  who  exchanged  a  few  shots  with  the  retreating 
enemy,  who  left  behind  them  one  cannon  spiked. 
In  closing  my  report  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  bring  before 
your  notice  the  exemplary  and  soldierly  conduct  of  the 
Highlanders,  every  one  acting  as  if  on  parade,  and  confi 
dent  that  their  General  would  lead  them  to  victory. " 

As  soon  as  we  had  rested  a  little  we  began  the  work  of 
leveling  the  fort.  The  gun  left  by  the  enemy  was  a 
twelve  pounder,  which  we  managed  to  get  across  the 
river  and  took  to  Beaufort.  By  dark  our  work  was  nearly 
completed  and  we  rested  from  our  labors.  The  cooks 
soon  arrived  with  coffee  which  refreshed  us  wonderfully  ; 
an  hour  or  two  was  spent  in  talking  ever  the  events  of 


i862.  A   WEE   DROP.  113 

the  day,  and  many  regrets  were  expressed  that  the  occa 
sion  should  pass  without  a  "wee  drop"  to  hansel  the 
New  Year.  Eolling  our  blankets  about  us  we  curled  our 
selves  up  for  a  nights  rest,  having  spent  a  New  Year's 
such  as  none  of  us  dreamed  of  twelve  months  before. 

To  recur  for  a  moment  to  the  other  divisions  of  our 
force. — From  Colonel  Leasure's  report  we  learn  that  his 
command  performed  the  duty  assigned  them  in  a  very 
creditable  manner.  The  approach  of  our  column  on  the 
enemy's  flank  caused  him  to  abandon  the  fort  without 
firing  a  gun,  and  Leasure  sent  over  a  force  to  take  posses 
sion  of  the  work  and  pursue  the  retreating  enemy,  about 
the  same  time  that  our  skirmish  line  reached  the  fort. 
In  his  report  he  says  :  "  I  am  happy  in  being  able  to 
report  favorably  of  my  command,  and  also  to  recommend 
to  your  favor  Lieutenant  Marshall,  in  command  of  com 
pany  K  of  the  Seventy-Ninth  New  York  Eegiment,  for 
the  time  being  attached  to  my  command.  His  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  locality  and  ready  co-operation  deserves, 
as  they  have  received,  my  warmest  thanks." 

Eegarding  the  operations  on  the  left,  Captain  Elliot 
says  in  part  :  "I  led  the  way  in  a  small  boat.  The  tide 
fortunately  was  very  high,  and  I  could  thus  take  the 
flats  directly  across  two  hundred  yards  of  marsh  that 
intervened  between  the  river  and  the  enemy's  works. 
The  companies  landed  in  regular  succession  except  com 
pany  C  Koundhead  regiment  which  I  did  not  think  it 
necessary  to  land.  We  found  the  work,  as  we  expected, 
abandoned,  with  evidence  of  a  hasty  retreat  of  but  a 
small  party  of  men.  The  works  were  nearly  completed, 
and  were  intended  for  one  large  sea-coast  gun  and  a  field 
battery." 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  Highlanders  were  actively 
engaged  at  all  three  points  on  the  line.  The  reason  for 
this  was  doubtless  owing  to  the  fact  that  our  men,  and 
especially  the  officers,  had  made  themselves  thoroughly 

8 


SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

familiar  with  the  locality  ;  Captain  Elliot  especially  had 
studied  the  ground  about  Seabrook,  and  was  just  the 
person  to  lead  the  left  column. 

Near  midnight  we  were  awakened  by  the  word  being 
passed:  "Fa'  in  for  your  whuskey."  General  Stevens 
had  sent  us  the  ' '  wee  drop  "  as  a  New  Year's  gift.  Quar 
termaster  Lilly,  who  attended  to  the  distribution  of  the 
fluid,  was  heard  to  remark,  sotto-voce,  that  the  Highland 
ers  deserved  to  be  served  with  the  same  kind  that  they 
had  sent  to  him  at  Hilton  Head.  After  partaking  of  our 
ration  we  lay  down  again  and  were  not  disturbed  till 
daylight. 

After  getting  our  breakfast  we  finished  the  task  of 
leveling  the  earth -work,  and  then  the  troops  began  cross 
ing  the  ferry.  The  Quartermaster  had  replaced  the  rope 
by  which  the  boat  was  guided,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
whole  force  was  over.  The  gun-boats  meanwhile  kept 
up  a  steady  discharge  of  eleven  and  fifteen  inch  shells 
into  the  woods  beyond  us,  so  as  to  prevent  any  dash  by 
the  enemy.  We  could  feel  the  wind  of  the  shells  as  they 
passed  over  our  heads,  so  close  did  they  come  to  us  while 
speeding  on  their  destructive,  and  preservative,  mission. 
If  the  stories  of  the  darkies  were  to  be  believed,  some  of 
these  "rotten  shot"  burst  fully  three  miles  inland. 

Just  before  the  regiment  began  to  cross,  Lieutenant 
Graham  was  sent  out  with  a  party  to  destroy  the  build 
ings  in  the  vicinity.  Most  of  these  were  mere  cabins, 
but  there  were  two  fine  mansions,  filled  with  handsome 
and  costly  furniture  ;  it  seemed  a  pity  that  they  could  not 
be  spared,  but  they  had  to  share  the  fate  of  their  more 
unpretentious  neighbors  ;  the  match  was  applied,  and 
soon  mansions  and  cabins  were  reduced  to  a  pile  of  smoul 
dering  ruins.  After  seeing  these  orders  fully  carried  out 
we  crossed  the  ferry,  and  all  were  safe  on  Beaufort  Island 
by  noon.  We  halted  a  short  time  at  our  old  camp  (Ste 
vens)  for  dinner,  and  then  began  our  march  to  Beaufort, 
which  we  reached  by  easy  stages  late  in  the  afternoon. 


1 862.  PERIOD  OF  REST.  115 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

CAMP  LIFE  AT  BEAUFORT. 

BRIGADE  DRILL.  —  "  Soldiers  of  the  Coosaw."  —  Arrival  of  Colonel  Farnsworth 
and  Major  Hagadorn.  —  How  we  kept  Comfortable.  —  Missionaries  for  the 
Darkies.  —  Captain  "Sandy's"  speech.  —  Colonel  Farnsworth  in  Bad  Odor.  — 
Return  of  Bull  Run  Prisoners.  —  Ladies  in  Camp.  —  Our  New  Chaplain.  —  An 
April  Joke.  —  Negro  Refugees.  —  Eighth  Michigan  at  Wilmington  Island.  — 
Concert  for  Their  Benefit.  —  The  Program.  —  Crabbing  and  Fishing.—  An  Inci 
dent.  —  How  the  Darkies  Dressed.—  Camp  Pets.  —  Robert  Smalls  and  Rebel 
Steamer  "  Planter."  —  Expedition  to  Pocataligo.  —  Orders  to  Move.  —  Leave 
Beaufort  and  Reach  Hilton  Head. 


the  time  of  our  return  to  Beaufort  until  we  left 
it  for  James  Island,  on  the  first  of  June,  the 
regiment  enjoyed  a  season  of  almost  uninterrupted 
repose.  This  period  of  rest  from  active  service,  however, 
was  utilized  to  improve  the  troops  in  drill  and  dis 
cipline.  Besides  company  and  battalion  drills,  the  whole 
command  was  exercised  in  Brigade  drill  on  an  extensive 
cotton  field,  just  below  the  town,  three  times  a  week, 
under  the  direction  of  General  Stevens  and  his  Assistant 
Adjutant-General.  Besides  the  regular  movements  laid 
down  in  the  tactics,  the  three  arms  were  exercised  to  act 
in  concert,  and  in  crossing  streams,  passing  through 
woods,  and  attacking  works.  When  General  Sherman 
reviewed  the  command,  he  declared  that  he  never  saw 
regular  troops  who  equalled  the  Highlanders  in  soldierly 
bearing  and  appearance. 

The  field  duty  was  light  and  not  at  all  dangerous  ; 
about  every  third  week,  on  the  average,  we  took  our  turn 


116  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

of  picket  duty  at  Port  Royal  Ferry,  but  this  was  only  a 
pic-nic,  for  we  had  such  a  good  understanding  with  the 
enemy  that  it  was  rare  a  hostile  shot  was  fired  during  our 
sojourn. 

On  the  6th  General  Stevens  issued  his  congratulatory 
order  to  the  "Soldiers  of  the  Coosaw,"  wherein  he 
thanked  them  for  the  courage  they  had  displayed  on  the 
1st  instant.  The  General  delighted  in  high-sounding 
phrases,  in  Napoleonic  encomiums  ;  but  were  we  not  as 
worthy  of  eulogy  as  the  soldiers  of  Napoleon  ?  We 
thought  so,  at  any  rate,  and  these  orders  of  our  "Little 
Corporal "  were  received  by  us  with  unbounded  enthu 
siasm. 

On  the  17th  Colonel  Addison  Farnsworth,  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  arrived  and  assumed  command  of  the  regiment. 
Up  to  this  time  General  Stevens  had  been  Colonel  de 
facto  •  Farnsworth  was  now  Colonel  de  jure.  This  offi 
cer  had  a  good  military  record — a  veteran  of  the  Mexican 
war,  and  during  the  Bull  Run  campaign  commanded,  as 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  the  Thirty-Eighth  New  York  Vol 
unteers.  On  receiving  his  commission  the  Governor 
informed  him  that  he  knew  little  of  the  Seventy-Ninth, 
as  the  regiment  had  never  sent  any  reports  to  State  head 
quarters  ;  he  supposed,  however,  and  naturally,  that  the 
regiment  was  in  very  poor  condition,  both  as  to  numbers 
and  discipline.  When  the  Colonel  arrived  we  happened 
to  be  marching  through  the  streets  of  the  town,  and  he 
expressed  some  astonishment  at  our  numbers,  as  well  as 
at  the  neat  and  soldierly  appearance  of  what  he  had 
supposed  to  be  a  very  demoralized  regiment.  He  at  once 
made  a  report  to  the  Governor,  and  from  that  time  forth 
the  State  authorities  were  regularly  informed  of  our 
condition. 

Major  Morrison  was  also  commissioned  Lieuteiiaiit- 
Coloiiel  at  this  time,  and  to  supply  his  place  the  Governor 
had  commissioned  Francis  L.  Hagadorn,  of  New  York 


1 862.  PIANO  IN  THE  PARLOR.  117 

city.  The  new  Major,  on  presenting  himself,  remarked, 
facetiously,  that  he  had  "  brought  a  pair  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel's  shoulder  straps  for  the  new  appointee,  but  if  he 
declined  the  honor  and  preferred  to  retain  the  Majority, 
he  thought  he  could  get  the  Governor  to  change  their 
commissions."  Our  new  Major  did  not  remain  long, 
however  ;  and  we  learned,  soon  after  his  departure,  that 
he  had  been  made  a  Brigadier- General  in  the  Army  of 
Venezuela,  South  America — a  position  which  he  no  doubt 
filled  with  ability  and  credit. 

During  the  first  few  weeks  after  our  return  to  Beau 
fort  the  men  occupied  themselves  in  exploring  the  place. 
When  on  guard-duty  in  town  we  occupied  one  of  the 
houses  as  headquarters,  and  as  there  happened  to  be  a 
piano  in  the  parlor,  and  several  of  the  men  were  able  to 
play  on  it,  we  enjoyed  the  impromptu  concerts  as  only 
soldiers  could.  As  the  weather  grew  colder  in  February 
and  fires  "were  needed  at  night,  we  began  with  the  mater 
ial  from  the  outbuildings ;  as  they  disappeared,  the 
movables  about  the  house  were  consumed,  till  finally, 
one  cold  night,  the  top  of  the  piano  kept  us  comfortable 
for  a  while,  and  the  instrument  itself  was  only  spared 
because  of  the  difficulty  of  breaking  it  up. 

We  found  a  large  amount  of  reading  matter,  which 
was  utilized  by  those  whose  tastes  led  them  in  that 
direction,  and  many  of  us  selected  volumes  which  we 
hoped  to  send  home  to  our  friends  as  souvenirs  of  the 
war  ;  some  of  our  officers  even  went  so  far  as  to  box  up 
pianos  which  were  found  in  the  houses,  expecting  to 
send  them  home,  but  an  order  from  General  Stevens, 
prohibiting  the  sending  away  of  even  the  smallest 
articles,  put  a  veto  on  all  such  arrangements.  The  Pro 
vost  Marshal  made  a  raid  on  the  officers'  quarters  and 
confiscated  whatever  he  found  "contraband"  in  their 
possession.  Those  of  us  who  had  nothing  to  lose  enjoyed 
the  confusion  of  those  whose  cupidity  was  thus  nipped 
in  the  bud. 


118  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  February, 

On  the  2d  of  February  the  Eev.  Dr.  French,  from  New 
York,  preached  in  one  of  the  churches  in  town,  and  most 
of  the  regiment  went  to  hear  him.  It  appears  that  some 
Eeligious-Benevolent  Society  had  taken  measures  to  care 
for  and  educate  the  negroes,  and  Dr.  F.  was  one  of  the 
officials  sent  down  to  investigate  and  report  as  to  the 
advisability,  and  practicability,  of  dispensing  a  little 
mental,  moral  and  religious  pabulum  to  the  darkies  in 
this  vicinity.  They  certainly  needed  some  fostering 
care  ;  their  morals  were  in  a  worse  state  even  than  their 
mental  and  religious  condition,  and  it  appeared  like  an 
herculean  task  to  attempt  to  reform  them  in  either  direc 
tion.  Many  of  them  learned  their  A,  B,  C's  much  faster 
than  they  did  any  respect  for  the  seventh  command 
ment.  Our  men  were  no  better — nor  worse  either — than 
other  soldiers  in  their  treatment  of  the  colored  people, 
and  it  is  unnecessary  to  offer  any  excuses,  or  make  any 
apologies,  for  those  who  suffered  by  reason  of  their  indis 
cretions. 

The  Highlanders  prided  themselves  considerably  on 
being  a  "militia"  organization,  as  though  that  fact 
raised  the  regiment  above  the  level  of  the  volunteers. 
One  evening,  while  enjoying  a  banquet,  the  officers 
indulged  in  no  little  "gush"  over  this  fact.  The  "Vol 
unteers"  and  "Regulars"  were  also  toasted,  and  the 
merits  of  the  various  classes  of  soldiers  duly  set  forth  by 
the  respondents.  During  a  lull  in  the  speech-making, 
Captain  "Sandy,"  who  had  apparently  been  paying 
more  attention  to  the  bottle  than  to  the  speeches,  rose 
to  his  feet,  and  in  his  peculiarly  emphatic  manner 
remarked :  "To  h — 1  with  the  regulars  !  to  h — 1  with  the 
volunteers!  to  h— -1  with  the  meleetia!  It's  the  fechtin 
(fighting)  men  we  want ! "  The  point  was  so  well  taken, 
and  the  truth  of  his  pungent  remarks  so  apparent,  that 
they  "brought  down  the  house."  Whenever  after  that 
any  one  was  heard  to  claim  for  either  branch  any  par- 


i862.  BASE-BALL  AND  CRICKET.  119 

ticular  virtue  over  another,  Captain  Sandy's  aphorism 
was  recalled,  and  it  generally  settled  the  matter. 

We  soon  found  Colonel  Farnsworth  to  be  a  very  strict 
disciplinarian  and  competent  drill- master,  but  that  was 
all.  He  did  not  gain  the  confidence  or  even  the  respect 
of  the  men,  as  had  our  late  commander,  and  the  contrast 
between  the  two  was  often  the  subject  of  remark  among 
us.  On  behalf  of  the  Colonel,  however,  it  may  be  said 
that  he  was  a  great  sufferer,  physically  ;  he  had  been 
wounded  in  Mexico,  and  was  frequently  in  such  a  condi 
tion  from  pain  as  to  be  unfit  for  duty.  This,  no  doubt, 
irritated  him,  and,  coming  among  us  an  entire  stranger, 
he  lacked  the  sympathy  we  would  gladly  have  bestowed 
on  one  better  known  to  us.  On  several  occasions  he 
found  it  necessary  to  assert  his  dignity  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  men  were  much  incensed  against  him,  and  on 
one  occasion,  while  passing  through  one  of  the  company 
streets,  he  was  hissed  ;  on  another — a  dark  night — lie 
was  even  stoned.  On  appealing  to  General  Stevens  he 
received  very  little  sympathy,  and  was  advised  to  treat 
the  men  more  leniently.  "  They  are  not  accustomed  to 
such  strict  military  discipline  as  you  seem  to  think  it 
necessary  to  impose,  and  if  you  would  treat  them  better 
there  would  be  110  trouble."  Such  was  the  report  that 
reached  us  of  his  interview  with  the  General. 

Base-ball  and  cricket  served  to  occupy  some  of  our 
leisure  moments  ;  two  matches  of  the  latter  game  w^ere 
played  with  the  Roundheads,  in  both  of  which  the  High 
landers  were  victorious. 

On  the  -1th  of  March  a  number  of  our  men  who  had 
been  captured  at  Bull  Run  rejoined  the  regiment ;  it  was 
after  dark  when  their  arrival  was  announced,  so  we 
turned  out  with  torches,  and  escorted  them  to  camp,  the 
band  playing  ' '  Auld  lang  Syne. "  The  men  were  accom 
panied  by  Captain  Laing  who  had  barely  recovered  from 
the  severe  wounds  received  at  the  same  battle. 


120  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  April, 

On  the  6th  all  the  troops  in  Beaufort  were  reviewed 
by  General  Sherman,  Commander  of  the  department. 
The  time  began  to  hang  rather  heavily  on  our  hands 
now,  and  we  longed  for  something  to  turn  up  that  would 
vary  the  monotony  of  our  dull  camp  life. 

On  the  10th  a  perfect  deluge  of  rain  fell,  flooding  us 
completely  out  of  our  camp  grounds  ;  thanks  to  the  very 
sandy  nature  of  the  soil  however,  the  water  did  not 
remain  long  on  the  surface.  The  storm  was  accompanied 
by  great  darkness  so  that  the  event  was  afterwards  allu 
ded  to  as  "the  dark  day." 

On  the  27th  Lieutenant -Colonel  Morrison  was  ordered 
to  New  York  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  back  the 
remainder  of  the  Bull  Run.  prisoners,  but  on  reaching 
Albany  found  that  they  had  been  discharged,  the  govern 
ment  thinking  the  Avar  was  so  near  the  end  they  would 
not  be  needed ! 

Towards  the  end  of  the  month  several  ladies  from  the 
north,  missionaries,  to  the  negroes,  made  their  appear 
ance  in  town.  It  was  a  welcome  sight  to  us,  and  when 
occasionally,  they  visited  our  camp,  we  felt  highly  hon 
ored  and  exerted  ourselves  in  showing  them  about.  They 
happened  to  be  from  New  York  and  were  acquainted 
with  some  of  our  number. 

On  Sunday  the  30th  our  new  Chaplain,  the  Rev.  Jas. 
Wyatt,  who  had  arrived  on  the  23rd,  preached  his  first 
sermon  to  the  regiment.  We  were  very  much  pleased 
with  him,  he  was  young,  good-looking  and  apparently 
very  much  in  earnest  in  his  work;  he  Avas  a  very  diff 
erent  man  from  "Old  Scots  Away,"  and  soon  won  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  entire  regiment. 

On  April  1st  (!),  four  companies  of  the  regiment  were 
sent  to  Port  Royal  Ferry,  to  act  as  a  reserve  while  the 
Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  went  over  the  river,  on  what 
proved  to  be  a  wild-goose  chase.  It  had  been  reported 
that  the  enemy  were  re-building  batteries  and  mount- 


1 862.  LONGING  FOR  THE  FREEDOM.  121 

ing  guns,  but  neither  battery,  guns  nor  enemy  were 
found,  and  we  put  the  affair  down  as  merely  a  season 
able  joke. 

On  the  5th  the  brigade  was  paraded  to  witness  the 
drumming  out  of  one  of  the  Highlanders,  the  first 
instance  of  the  kind  that  had  occurred. 

On  the  Sth  the  regiment  went  to  the  ferry  again  and  one 
morning  during  our  sojourn  there,  a  number  of  negro  ref 
ugees—longing  for  the  freedom  which  they  knew  awaited 
them  within  the  lines  of  "  Massa  Linkum's  Sojers"- 
presented  themselves  at  the  end  of  the  causeway  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  by  signs  indicated  their 
desire  to  be  brought  over.  In  the  half  light  of  the  morn 
ing  the  negroes  were  not  at  first  recognized,  and  as  a 
number  of  persons  were  seen  moving  about,  our  boys 
crept  cautiously  to  the  extreme  end  of  the  causeway  pre 
pared  to  fire  a  volley  in  case  of  necessity.  As  soon  as  the 
contrabands  were  recognized  the  boys  determined  to  res 
cue  them. 

Contrary  to  their  usual  custom  and  fortunately  for  the 
darkies,  the  enemy  had  not  picketed  their  end  of  the 
causeway  during  the  night,  so  the  refugees  reached  that 
point  without  being  observed  by  those  who,  on  seeing 
them,  would  instantly  have  executed  the  fugitive  slave 
law.  Two  or  three  of  the  .boys  jumped  into  the  "High 
lander,"  a  boat  captured  only  a  few  days  before  from  the 
enemy's  side  of  the  river,  and  rowed  across  the  three 
hundred  feet  of  rapid  current  that  separated  the  heads  of 
the  causeway,  while  the  rest  of  the  picket -guard  stood 
with  their  rifles  ready  to  cover  the  operation.  On  reach 
ing  the  opposite  side,  thirteen  negroes  were  found,  men, 
women  and  children  ;  the  poor  creatures  had  traveled  a 
long  distance  from  the  interior  of  the  state,  making  their 
way  as  so  many  of  our  men  did  who  escaped  from  South 
ern  prisons,  walking  by  night  and  lying  hid  in  the 
swamps  and  woods  during  the  day. 


122  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  April, 

It  was  the  intention  to  take  over  the  women  and  chil 
dren  first,  and  they  were  placed  in  the  boat,  but  just  as 
it  was  about  to  push  off  the  enemy  discovered  what  was 
going  on,  an  alarm  was  raised,  and  several  of  the  guard 
were  seen  running  down  the  causeway  towards  the 
refugees  and  their  rescuers.  If  the  negro  men  were  left 
behind  they  would  doubtless  be  captured  before  the  boat 
could  return.  The  boat  was  not  large  enough,  it  was 
thought,  to  hold  the  whole  party,  yet  by  standing  up  all 
were  got  on  board  save  one  who  was  directed  to  push  the 
boat  off  and  then  hang  on  by  the  stern  and  swim  over. 
Fortunately  the  enemy  only  came  half  way  down  the 
causeway,  for  the  sight  of  our  men  standing  with  pieces 
at  a  "  ready"  warned  them  that  their  presence  was  not 
wanted — nor  would  it  have  been  tolerated  just  then. 

When  the  poor  negroes  were  safe  on  free  soil,  the 
manner  in  which  they  expressed  their  gratitude  made 
the  boys  feel  amply  rewarded  for  the  risk  they  had  run. 
The  poor  creatures  knelt  down  and  kissed  the  feet  and 
hands  of  their  deliverers,  at  the  same  time  weeping  and 
shouting  for  joy:  "We's  free  now!"  "We's  free 
now  !  "  u  God  bress  Massa  Linkum's  sojers  !  " 

We  remained  at  the  ferry  till  the  21st,  when  we  were 
relieved  by  the  Eoundheads.  During  our  absence  the 
band,  which  remained  at  Beaufort,  gave  a  fine  instru 
mental  concert  in  town  ;  Scottish  and  operatic  airs  formed 
the  program,  which  was  enjoyed  by  a  large  audience, 
including  the  General  and  all  the  ladies  in  the  place. 

Shortly  before  this,  the  Eighth  Michigan  had  been  sent 
down  to  the  vicinity  of  Savannah,  to  assist  in  the  bom 
bardment  of  Fort  Pulaski ;  they  witnessed  that  affair 
from  a  safe  distance,  and  helped  do  some  loud  cheering 
when  the  fort  fell  into  Union  hands.  The  news  was 
received  by  us  on  the  13th.  On  the  17th  a  detachment 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Eighth,  under  command 
of  their  Colonel,  was  sent  to  Wilmington  Island  on  a 


1 862.  OUR  BRAVE   COMRADES.  123 

scouting  expedition  ;  they  had  hardly  landed  when  they 
were  attacked  hy  a  greatly  superior  force  of  the  enemy- 
ambushed,  in  fact ;  the  first  intimation  the  poor  fellows 
had  of  the  presence  of  the  rebels  being  a  volley  poured 
into  their  ranks  from  the  unseen  foe.  Many  of  the  brave 
Michiganders  fell,  but  those  who  remained  unhurt  at 
once  sought  cover,  "Indian  fashion,"  as  one  of  them 
expressed  it,  when  relating  the  circumstances,  "  every 
man  to  his  tree." 

They  were  in  a  tight  place  ;  they  could  not  retreat  to 
their  boats  without  exposing  themselves  to  a  destructive 
fire  ;  they  must  fight  and  whip  the  enemy,  or  else 
surrender.  After  eleven  of  the  Michiganders,  including 
their  Adjutant,  had  been  killed,  and  thirty-three  wounded, 
the  boys  became  desperate  ;  an  assault  was  determined 
upon,  and  the  little  band  rushed  on  the  enemy  with  a 
ringing  cheer.  The  foe  ingloriously  fled,  and  were  pur 
sued  a  mile  or  more,  which  gave  time  for  the  removal  of 
the  dead  and  wounded  to  the  boats,  and  the  others 
returned  in  safety.  The  regiment  returned  to  Beaufort 
on  the  20th.  On  the  afternoon  following  the  return  of 
the  Highlanders  from  the  Ferry,  we  turned  out  and 
marched  to  the  camp  of  the  Eighth,  in  order  to  congrat 
ulate  them  on  their  brilliant  achievement,  and  also  to 
sympathize  with  them  in  the  loss  they  had  sustained. 

Later  on,  our  sympathy  for  our  brave  comrades  took  a 
more  practical  turn,  for  on  the  7th  of  May,  our  band, 
assisted  by  some  vocalists  from  the  regiment,  gave  a  con 
cert  for  the  benefit  of  the  families  of  those  who  had  been 
killed,  and  a  handsome  sum  was  realized  for  that  worthy 
object. 

The  printed  program  of  the  entertainment  has  been 
preserved  by  Major  Judge,  by  whose  courtesy  the  follow 
ing  verbatim  copy  is  given  : 


124:  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

GRAND  CONCERT 
OF  VOCAL  AND  INSTRUMENTAL  Music, 

IN  THE  OPEN  AIR, 

For  the  Benefit  of  the  WIDOWS  AND  ORPHANS 

of  the  gallant  soldiers  of  the  8th  Regiment,  Michigan  Volunteers,  who  fell  in 
the  late  action  with  the  rebels  at  Wilmington  Island,  Georgia,  on  the  23rd  day 
of  April,  1862. 

A  Grand  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Concert  will  be  given  on  the  Parade  ground 
of  the  8th  Regiment,  Michigan  Volunteers,  on  Wednesday  evening,  the  yth  inst., 
at  6k  o'clock,  by  the  band  of  the  79th  Regiment,  Highlanders,  N.  Y.  Volunteers, 
who,  with  several  gentlemen  of  musical  ability,  have  kindly  volunteered  their 
services  ;  the  object  being  to  aid  a  fund  for  the  relief  of  the  widows  of  the 
brave  soldiers  who  fell  in  the  late  action  on  Wilmington  Island,  Georgia. 

Boxes  will  be  placed  at  different  stations  on  the  ground,  in  which  the  fellow 
soldiers  of  the  late  fallen  men  can  deposit  their  contributions  to  this  worthy  object. 

PROGRAMME. 
MARCH,         ......  79th  Regimental  Band 

OVERTURE  (from  Nabucca),  .  "  " 

BANJO  OBLIGATO. — "  Happy  Land  of  Canaan,"  Napoleon,  79th  Regiment 

CLOGG  HORNPIPE,  George  Williams,  ...  " 

SONG.—"  Lord  Lovell,"  Maxwell,          .... 

BANJO  SOLO,  Trimble,          .....         looth  Reg't  P.  V. 

SONG. — "  Minute  Gun  at  Sea,"  M.  Sinclair,      .  ,  .  79th  Reg't 

ATTAKAPAS  JIG,  M.  Millan,  .....  " 

accompanied  by  '  Napoleon'  with  Silver  string  banjo. 
BANJO  SOLO,  Trimble,          .....         looth  Reg't  P.  V. 

SONG. — "  Scotch  Comic"   (Tarn  Gibb  an'  th'  Sou),  Lieut.  Montgomery, 

79th  Reg't 

NEDDY  QUICKSTEP. — "  Good-by  at  the  Door,"       ...  " 

CHARACTERISTIC  CREMONA  MELANG,  '  Napoleon,'       ..." 
SONG.—"  Soldier's  Tear,"  Maxwell,  .... 

STUMP  SPEECH,  M.  Millan,        .  .  ,  .  .  " 

GENERAL  BURNSIDE'S  GRAND  MARCH,  .  .  79th  Reg't  Band 

POMPEY'S  Music  LESSON,  Millan  and 'Napoleon,'       .  .  79th  Reg't 

SONG. — "  Hurrah  for  the  Highlands,"  Capt.  Shillinglaw,  .  " 

BANJO  SOLO,  Trimble,          .  .  .  .  .  .  100  P.  V. 

SONG. — "  Bonnie  Charlie's  now  Awa,"  M.  Sinclair,  .  79th  Reg't 

CAVITINA  (from  Somnambula),  .  .  .  79th  Reg't  Band 

GRAND  BANJO  EXERCISE  (by  the  Emperor),  'Napoleon,'  .  79th  Reg't 

SONG. — "  Jeanie's  Black  e'e,"  Lieut.  Montgomery,  .  .  " 

COTTON  POD  JUBILEE,  "  Napoleon,  &c.,"  . '          .  .  " 

BANJO  SOLO,  Trimble,  .  ,  ."  .        -._.  .  .        100  P.  V. 

GRAND  FINALE,  National  Airs,  .  .  .  79th  Reg't  Band 

The  whole  to  be  under  the  management  of  Capt.  Lusk  and  Lieut.  Montgomery- 

CAMP  KETTLE  PRINT. 


1 862.  IN  AN  AWFUL  PLIGHT.  125 

About  May  1st,  Colonel  Farnsworth  went  home  on  sick 
leave  and  did  not  rejoin  the  regiment  till  the  end  of  June, 
while  we  were  on  James  Island.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Morrison  returned  from  New  York  on  the  9th,  and 
assumed  command  of  the  regiment. 

The  weather  was  now  quite  warm  and  the  flowers  in 
full  bloom  ;  we  had  scarcely  known  what  winter  was  ; 
ice  had  never  formed  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in 
thickness,  and  if  a  little  snow  was  seen  early  in  the 
morning,  the  sun  soon  caused  that  to  disappear.  No 
wonder  that  people  in  warm  climates  are  indolent, 
we  were  fast  becoming  so,  and  it  soon  became  a  task 
even  to  stroll  through  the  gardens  and  pick  bouquets  of 
flowers  with  which  to  decorate  our  tents. 

Bathing  in  the  salt  water  was  resumed,  crabbing  and 
fishing,  too,  became  favorite  pastimes ;  basket  after 
basket  full  of  the  Crustacea  was  carried  to  camp  and 
boiled  in  the  mess  kettles,  and  the  salt  pork  and  mess 
beef  of  the  commissary  were  at  a  discount. 

While  a  party  of  us  were  engaged,  one  day,  in  the 
peaceful  occupation  of  fishing  and  crabbing,  we  heard  a 
great  commotion  in  camp  ;  on  looking  up  we  saw  two 
or  three  men  running  towards  the  water,  half  dressed 
apparently,  and  who  seemed  to  be  covered  from  head  to 
feet  with  some  substance,  which  when  they  came  near 
enough,  caused  us  to  hold  our  noses  and  cry,  whew  ! 
The  leaders  were  followed  by  nearly  the  whole  camp, 
yelling  and  shouting  and  laughing  like  men  demented. 
On  reaching  the  water  the  advance  guard  plunged  boldly 
in,  clothes  and  all,  and  our  fishing  for  the  time  being  was 
spoiled.  It  seemed  that  the  poor  unfortunates  had  been 
occupying  the  sink  when  the  rail  broke  and  let  them 
down,  heels  over  head,  into  the  unsavory  mass  below  ; 
their  cries  brought  relief,  but  it  was  extended  only 
at  rail's  length,  110  one  being  brave  enough  to  grasp  the 
unfortunates  by  the  hand,  who  were  in  an  awful  plight, 


126  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

of  course,  and  were  advised  to  "  go  and  bury "  them 
selves.  They  compromised  by  pitching  into  the  water, 
where  they  partially  cleaned  their  garments,  and  waited 
while  their  tent-mates  brought  them  dry  clothing. 

As  the  weather  grew  warmer  we  were  obliged  to 
arrange  our  tents  on  the  summer-house  plan  ;  we  raised 
the  tents  a  foot  or  more  from  the  ground  and  procured 
some  window  blinds,  which  we  placed  along  the  sides  and 
ends  ;  this  allowed  a  free  circulation  of  air,  and  rendered 
our  quarters  quite  comfortable.  We  also  laid  out  flower 
beds  in  front  of  the  tents,  to  which  we  transferred  plants 
from  the  gardens  in  town,  and  in  a  short  time  our  camp 
presented  a  very  neat  and  tasteful  appearance. 

Blackberries  were  very  plenty  at  this  time,  the  old 
cotton  fields  being  completely  covered  with  the  vines, 
and  one  could  scarcely  put  down  his  foot  without  tread 
ing  on  the  large  and  luscious  fruit.  When  we  felt  too 
lazy  to  gather  them  ourselves,  the  darkies  were  ready  to 
sell  them  to  us  for  the  usual  "  five  cents  "  a  quart. 

An  enterprising  photographer  had  established  himself 
in  town,  and  scarcely  a  soldier,  or  darkey  either,  but  had 
his  or  her  picture  "took,"  fifty  cents  being  the  price. 
Quite  a  number  of  stores  had  also  been  opened,  generally 
by  regimental  sutlers,  who  did  a  thriving  business  with 
the  colored  people  as  well  as  with  the  soldiers.  How  the 
darkies  did  deck  themselves  with  cheap  finery  !  The 
women  seemed  to  have  a  passion  for  ' ( store  "  shoes  and 
bonnets  ;  they  would  squeeze  their  feet  into  light  shoes, 
a  size  or  two  smaller  than  they  could  comfortably  wear, 
and  go  limping  and  mincing  about  the  streets  "jes  like 
de  wite  ladies."  They  wore  the  biggest  and  "loudest" 
bonnets,  however,  and  in  this,  probably,  made  some  com 
pensation  for  the  punishment  inflicted  on  their  feet. 

A  history  of  the  regiment  would  be  incomplete  without 
a  notice  of  some  of  the  "pets."  "Tip"  was  known 
throughout  the  whole  brigade  ;  he  was  a  dog,  born  at 


1862.  TIP— MAJOR.  127 

Beaufort,  and  served  out  the  three  years'  term  of  the 
regiment,  returning  with  us  to  New  York  in  1 8(J4.  His 
name  was  suggested  by  a  peculiarity  in  his  caudal 
appendage.  Of  course  he  belonged  to  the  drum  corps, 
and  his  special  owner,  Samo,  ' '  loved  him  like  a  verra 
brither."  "  Tip  "  was  familiar  with  the  members  of  the 
regiment,  all  of  whom  made  friends  with  him,  but  he 
could  never  be  induced  to  extend  his  friendship  to  the 
Michiganders — he  drew  the  line  at  the  Highlanders. 
Quite  frequently,  during  our  subsequent  campaigns  in 
Virginia,  Kentucky,  Mississippi  and  Tennessee,  Tip  did 
good  service  in  the  foraging  line,  and  many  a  pig,  sheep 
and  chicken  was  brought  to  the  mess  kettles  through  his 
agency.  During  dress-parade  he  would  accompany  the 
band  and  drum  corps,  as  they  marched  down  the  line, 
walking  as  demurely  as  the  oldest  veteran,  and  on  the 
return,  when  the  corps  played  a  quick-step,  his  own  gait 
denoted  that  he  was  as  well  versed  in  the  cadence  step  as 
any  of  the  musicians. 

"Major"  was  another  member  of  the  canine  race,  also 
attached  to  the  drum  corps,  and  whose  cognomen  fre 
quently  led  to  amusing  and  laughable  results.  One  day 
"  Major"  was  sunning  himself  in  front  of  Major  Morri 
son's  quarters,  when  that  officer,  accompanied  by  the 
new  Major,  Hagadorn,  stepped  from  the  tent ;  the  story 
goes  that  at  that  moment  some  one  of  the  corps  from  a 
tent  called  out  "Major  !"  when  both  officers,  as  well  as 
the  dog  looked  earnestly  in  the  direction  of  the  voice, 
each  thinking  for  a  moment  that  he  was  the  party 
addressed.  In  order  to  officially  seal  "Major"  as  one  of 
the  corps  and  to  establish  his  identity  in  case  he  went 
astray,  the  picture  of  a  drum  covered  one  of  his  sides, 
and  "  D.  C.  TO  "  w^as  painted  on  the  other. 

Young  alligators  were  also  domesticated  by  some  of 
the  men  ;  a  family  of  owls  occupied  a  cage  near  one  of 
our  tents,  and  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  the  woods  and 


128  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

fields  were  full  of  mocking  birds  who  almost  satiated  us 
with  their  music,  they  too  would  doubtless  have  been 
numbered  among  our  captive  pets. 

Before  daylight  of  the  15th,  considerable  excitement 
was  occasioned  among  the  guards  on  duty  in  town,  by 
the  noise  of  a  steamboat  making  its  way  to  the  dock, 
muskets  were  fired  and  a  general  alarm  raised ;  when 
the  boat  reached  the  wharf  it  proved  to  be  the  "  Planter," 
mounting  two  large  guns,  and  in  charge  of  Robert  Smalls, 
a  colored  pilot,  who  with  his  crew  of  three  or  four  col 
ored  men,  had  run  the  boat  away  from  Charleston  Har 
bor,  while  the  white  officers  were  temporarily  on  shore. 
It  was  considered  a  great  feat  and  Pilot  Smalls  was  the 
hero  of  the  hour.  At  daylight  a  party  of  us  went  on 
board  and  heard  the  story  from  his  own  lips.  Smalls 
was  a  bright  intelligent  fellow,  about  thirty  years  of  age, 
and  told  us  how  he  had  been  planning  the  movement  for 
a  long  time,  ever  since  our  forces  had  taken  Port  Royal 
in  fact,  and  how  he  had  waited  and  watched,  patiently 
all  these  months,  until  at  last  he  was  successful.  The 
boat  had  been  used  in  Charleston  Harbor  for  the  purpose 
of  carrying  supplies  from  the  city  to  the  various  military 
posts  in  the  vicinity,  and  Smalls  was  the  pilot ;  his  own 
family,  besides  those  of  the  other  members  of  the  crew 
were  brought  safely  off. 

The  subsequent  career  of  Smalls  is  somewhat  noted. 
He  began  to  study  books  as  soon  as  he  entered  our  lines, 
was  employed  by  the  government  as  a  pilot  at  a  good 
salary,  and  when  the  war  was  over  settled  in  Beaufort 
and  became  a  leader  among  the  colored  people,  by  whose 
votes  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  and  after 
wards  to  Congress.  He  was  a  member  of  the  48th  Con 
gress  and  re-elected  to  the  49th  from  the  Tth  district  of 
South  Carolina.  A  letter  received  from  him  by  the 
writer,  in  December,  1884,  in  answer  to  certain  inquiries 
concerning  his  career,  fully  establishes  the  identity  of 


1 862.  NEAR   POCATALIGO.  129 

Pilot  Smalls  and  "General"  Robert  Smalls,  M.  C.  from 
South  Carolina.  He  well  remembers  the  Highlanders, 
and  recalled  several  incidents  which  occurred  during  our 
occupancy  of  Beaufort,  in  1862. 

Between  the  15th  and  28th  of  the  month  considerable 
excitement  was  manifested  in  camp.  Several  officers 
who  had  been  summoned  to  appear  before  a  board  of 
examiners,  failed  to  pass  and  were  allowed  to  resign. 
On  the  19th  the  day  was  spent  in  ponton  drill ;  this  we 
thought  was  indicative  of  an  early  movement  and  camp 
bulletins  were  thick  as  blackberries.  On  the  20th  we 
turned  out  in  heavy  marching  order  and  proceeded  a 
short  distance  on  the  ferry  road,  but  returned  to  camp 
before  night.  On  the  21st  we  repeated  the  operation, 
striking  our  tents,  too,  but  they  were  pitched  again  in 
the  afternoon. 

On  the  28th  forty-eight  hours'  rations  were  issued,  and 
we  were  directed  to  prepare  for  a  move  on  the  following 
morning.  When  the  appointed  hour  arrived,  twenty- 
five  volunteers  from  each  company  were  called  for,  for 
the  purpose  of  destroying  the  bridge  on  the  Charleston 
and  Savannah  Eailroad  near  Pocataligo,  distant  about 
ten  miles  from  Port  Royal  Ferry.  This  just  suited  the 
majority  of  us,  and  far  more  volunteered  than  were 
needed.  Our  party  started  about  six  o'clock  in  the 
morning  and  reached  the  ferry  at  nine.  There  we 
learned  that  the  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania,  Company  E  of  the 
Highlanders,  and  one  company  of  the  Eighth  Michigan, 
all  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Christ,  of  the  Fiftieth, 
had  crossed  over  early  in  the  morning  and  marched 
toward  the  objective  point.  When  we  realized  that  we 
were  merely  to  play  second  fiddle,  and  act  as  a  reserve, 
we  were  quite  disgusted  and  wanted  to  turn  back,  but 
were  directed  to  remain  at  the  ferry  till  further  orders. 

We  learned  that  Company  E  of  the  Highlanders,  who 
were  armed  with  rifles,  also  carried  axes  and  combusti- 

9 


130  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  May 

bles,  and  formed  the  engineer  corps  of  the  expedition, 
and  with  the  assistance  of  the  company  of  the  Eighth 
Michigan  were  to  fire  the  hridge,  while  Colonel  Christ 
with  his  regiment  was  to  engage  the  enemy  and  hold 
him  at  bay.  About  110011  a  cavalryman  brought  in  word 
that  Colonel  Christ  was  within  three  miles  of  the  bridge, 
but  that  his  further  progress  had  been  stopped  by  a  large 
force  of  the  enemy.  Without  waiting  for  a  detachment 
of  the  Eighth  Michigan,  which  we  learned  was  coming 
up  to  accompany  us,  we  pushed  forward,  under  orders 
to  go  as  far  as  Garden's  Corners  and  there  await  further 
orders.  Garden's  Corners  was  a  small  village,  of  about 
a  dozen  houses,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  store,  situated 
about  four  miles  from  the  ferry.  Since  New  Year's  the 
place  had  been  deserted  by  the  inhabitants  and  was  only 
used  by  the  enemy  as  a  picket  outpost ;  previous  to  that 
time  it  had  been  the  headquarters  of  the  troops  that 
were  on  duty  along  the  river.  Our  object  in  destroying 
the  bridge  was  to  break  the  railroad  communication 
between  Charleston  and  Savannah,  in  order  to  prevent 
any  rapid  concentration  of  troops  at  either  point.  We 
reached  the  Corners  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ; 
all  along  the  road  we  saw  tokens  of  the  gun-boats  ;  one 
or  two  large  shells  which  had  failed  to  explode,  and  sev 
eral  fragments  which  the  enemy  had  collected  as  relics, 
were  passed  by.  Lying  in  the  road  was  a  sixty-four 
pounder  siege  gun,  which  the  enemy  had  rendered  use 
less  by  breaking  the  trunnions  and  spiking  the  vent. 

During  the  afternoon  the  weather  had  been  quite 
threatening  ;  there  had  been  some  thunder,  which  we 
at  first  thought  to  be  the  sound  of  big  guns,  but  we 
had  not  been  long  at  the  Corners  before  we  heard  unmis 
takably  the  sound  of  artillery.  We  thought  then  that 
the  reserves  might  have  more  work  than  they  bargained 
for ;  reports  from  the  front  indicated  that  a  large  force 
of  the  enemy  was  advancing  to  contest  the  ground,  the 


1 862.  A   MERE   DEMONSTRATION.  131 

bridge  being  too  inportant  a  structure  for  them  to  lose 
without  a  struggle.  Soon  a  cavalryman  rode  in,  who 
reported  that  Colonel  Christ  had  abandoned  the  plan,  as 
the  enemy  had  appeared  in  such  strength  as  to  make  the 
attempt  too  perilous  with  his  small  force,  and  that  our 
men  were  falling  back.  We  were  directed  to  return  to 
the  ferry  and  cross,  in  order  to  be  out  of  the  way  when 
the  main  body  arrived.  On  our  way  back  we  met  the 
Michigan  reserve,  and  they  too  turned  about,  and  by 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  we  had  recrossed  the  Coosaw 
and  Colonel  Christ's  command  returned  an  hour  later. 

It  was  afterwards  learned  that  a  little  while  before  this, 
General  Stevens  had  planned  a  serious  expedition  in  force 
against  the  railroad  connecting  Charleston  and  Savan 
nah.  To  this  end  he  had  obtained  information  of  the 
condition  of  the  country,  the  roads,  and  the  force  and 
disposition  of  the  enemy.  Captain  Elliot,  as  'usual  had 
done  good  service  in  this  direction,  having  penetrated  as 
far  as  Pocataligo,  spending  several  days  with  a  negro 
guide  in  obtaining  -very  valuable  information.  Negro 
refugees  who  came  in  from  time  to  time  also  furnished 
more  or  less  reliable  information. 

General  Sherman,  after  some  hesitation,  had  sanctioned 
the  project  and  had  decided  to  largely  strengthen  General 
Stevens'  command.  On  the  very  eve  of  the  movement, 
however,  General  Sherman  was  relieved  by  General 
David  Hunter,  and  the  projected  advance  was  counter 
manded  and  turned  into  a  mere  demonstration.  The  loss 
was  three  killed  and  seven  wounded,  all  of  the  Fiftieth. 
We  remained  at  Camp  Stevens,  near  the  Ferry,  all  night, 
and  early  the  following  morning  started  for  Beaufort, 
when  within  a  short  distance  of  the  town  we  were  met 
by  the  band  and  we  entered  camp  to  the  inspiring  strains 
of  "The  Campbells  are  Coming."  Those  who  had 
remained  in  camp  were  not  slow  to  chaff  us  about  the 
failure  of  the  expedition,  but  we  who  had  volunteered 


132  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

were  not  a  bit  sorry — we  had  shown  our  disposition  to  do 
our  duty  and  that  was  reward  enough. 

When  we  returned  to  camp  we  found  the  cooks  busily 
engaged  in  preparing  three  days'  rations,  and  it  was  gen 
erally  understood  that  we  were  to  move  in  the  direction 
of  Charleston  ;  early  in  the  evening  the  orders  were 
countermanded,  however,  and  we  settled  down  for  a  com 
fortable  night's  rest. 

Saturday,  the  31st,  found  us  engaged  in  the  usual  round 
of  camp  duties  ;  after  breakfast  we  set  about  cleaning  up 
for  Sunday,  and  at  dress  parade  on  that  evening  orders 
were  read  directing  us  to  be  ready  to  move  on  the  follow 
ing  morning,  with  three  days'  rations  ;  after  supper  we 
began  our  packing.  Such  an  accumulation  of  odds  and 
ends  as  we  had  gathered  during  our  long  occupancy  of 
the  place  !  all  convenient  while  we  remained  in  camp, 
but  which  we  could  not  possibly  carry  with  us.  We 
called  in  the  darkies  and  they  were  soon  returning  to 
their  cabins,  staggering  under  the  loads  of  spoils  obtained 
from  our  abundance. 

The  men  were  in  high  spirits  at  the  idea  of  a  change. 
We  had  been  so  long  in  Beaufort  that  we  were  tired  of 
the  place,  and  longed  for  new  fields.  Six  months  was  a 
long  time  for  a  regiment  to  be  stationed  in  one  place  in 
those  days  of  rapid  changes. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  June  1st  the  bugle  called 
us  up  ;  the  teams  were  on  the  ground  ready  for  our  bag 
gage  before  the  tents  were  struck,  and  Lieut. -Colonel 
Morrison,  who  was  in  command  of  the  regiment,  received 
a  characteristic  blessing  from  General  Stevens  for  not 
having  the  tents  struck  the  night  before,  according  to 
orders.  We  had  scarcely  time  to  swallow  a  cup  of  coffee 
before  the  command  to  fall  in  was  given.  The  Eighth 
Michigan  had  started  before  daylight,  and  so  had  the 
artillery  and  cavalry ;  the  Roundheads  and  Highlanders 
were  the  last  to  leave,  the  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  being 
left  behind  to  garrison  the  town. 


1 862.  THE   ROSTER  SHOWED.  133 

By  seven  o'clock  we  were  on  board  the  steamer,  and, 
bidding  farewell  to  the  town  where  so  many  happy  hours 
had  been  spent,  and  which  we  never  expected  to  see  again, 
proceeded  on  our  way  towards  Hilton  Head,  where  we 
arrived  early  in  the  day.  At  this  time  the  roster  showed 
six  hundred  and  eighty-eight  men  and  twenty-six  officers 
present  for  duty. 


134  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE  JAMES  ISLAND  CAMPAIGN. 

FIRST  Anniversary  of  our  Leaving  New  York.  —  Up  Stono  River.  —  Landing  on 
Battery  Island.  —  A  Reconnoissance.  —  First  Blood  for  the  Highlanders.  —  A 
Lively  Skirmish.  —  Captured  Guns.  —  A  Wounded  Comrade.  —  How  the  Guns 
were  Brought  In.  —  The  "Nutmeg"  Battery.  —  A  Prisoner.  —  Sergeant  Camp 
bell  of  the  New  York,  and  Lieutenant  Campbell  of  the  Charleston  High 
landers.  —  Drenched,  through  Mud  and  Water.  —  A  Soldier's  Supper.  —  To  the 
Front  Again.  —  Will  the  Rain  Never  Stop?  —  Miasma  and  Poor  Water.  —  The 
Antidote.  —  Up  in  a  Balloon.  —  Advancing  the  Lines.—  Building  Earthworks.  — 
"Cover!"  —  Mounting  Guns.  —  "Jawing  Back."  —  "Ay,  that's  aye  the  way! 
They  Pay  us  the  Day,  and  Shoot  us  the  Morn  !"  —  Preparing  for  the  Assault. 
—  Night  Before  the  Battle. 


old  quarters  on  Bay  Point  were  in  full  view  from 
the  deck  of  our  vessel,  but  as  we  were  in  momen 
tary  expectation  of  orders  to  proceed  on  our  way,  no  one 
was  allowed  to  visit  the  scene  of  our  first  camp  on  South 
Carolina  soil.  We  remained  at  our  anchorage  till  eight 
o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  Monday,  June  2nd. 
Just  one  year  ago  the  regiment  left  New  York  for  the 
seat  of  war  ;  had  any  one  told  us  then  that  a  year  from 
that  time  we  would  still  be  in  the  service,  and  away 
down  in  South  Carolina,  we  would  have  put  him  down 
as  a  croaker  —  a  bird  of  evil  omen  —  but  there  we  were, 
and  the  war  seemed  a  great  deal  further  from  its  ending 
than  it  did  twelve  months  before. 

According  to  the  "  knowing"  ones,  we  were  destined 
for  as  many  points  on  the  coast  as  there  were  companies 
in  the  regiment  ;  the  majority  of  us,  however,  did  not 


1 862.  "l  TOLD   YOU  SO." 

take  the  trouble  to  guess.  We  were  veterans  now,  and 
had  learned  to  appear,  at  least,  totally  indifferent  as  to 
where  the  fortunes  of  war  might  take  us. 

Our  little  fleet,  consisting  of  four  gun-boats,  and  as 
many  steam  transports,  each  with  a  schooner  laden  with 
quartermasters'  stores  and  munitions  of  war  in  tow,  was 
soon  on  its  way,  headed  up  the  coast.  As  soon  as  the 
long,  regular  swell  of  the  Atlantic  was  encountered,  old 
Neptune  presented  his  bills  and  demanded  the  usual 
tribute.  It  was  amusing  to  notice  the  various  devices  by 
which  the  sick  ones  endeavored  to  conceal  their  condition 
from  their  more  stomach  -  hardened  comrades  ;  little 
sympathy  was  bestowed  on  the  poor  unfortunates,  and 
practical  jokes  on  the  sick  ones  kept  the  others  in  a  lively 
frame  of  mind  during  our  short  journey.  To  those  of  us 
fortunate  enough  to  enjoy  the  sail  and  laugh  at  sea-sick 
ness,  the  trip  was  a  pleasant  one. 

On  reaching  Stoiio  Inlet  we  found  the  gun-boats,  which 
had  steamed  on  ahead,  just  entering,  and  the  transports 
were  at  once  signalled  to  follow.  Charleston,  then,  was 
our  objective  point,  and  those  who  had  guessed  right 
made  the  rest  of  us  tired  with  their  ' '  I  told  you  so  ! " 

As  the  vessels  advanced  we  found  the  river  varied  in 
width,  from  a  mile  in  some  places  to  less  than  a  hundred 
yards  in  others  ;  the  land  on  both  sides  was  perfectly  flat, 
raised  only  a  foot  or  two,  apparently,  above  the  level  of  the 
water  ;  clumps  of  woods  and  underbrush  alternated  with 
cotton  fields,  meadow  lands  and  swamps  ;  while  here  and 
there  small  houses  and  out-buildings  dotted  the  land 
scape. 

On  either  shore  the  enemy  had  erected  low  earth 
works,  and  at  intervals  small  forts  or  redoubts  ;  these, 
however,  were  all  deserted,  our  gun-boats  having  entered 
the  place  some  time  before  and  driven  the  enemy  to  the 
cover  of  the  woods,  some  half  mile  or  more  from  the 
river.  The  principal  works  were  on  the  right,  on  Battery 


138  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  Juner 

and  James  Islands.  On  our  left,  John's  Island,  we  passed  a 
camp  (or  corral)  containing  about  three  hundred  negroes, 
who  had  been  collected  by  the  naval  force  during  their 
former  visits.  We  passed  one  deserted  village,  Legare- 
ville,  where  we  counted  some  fifty  houses  and  one 
church,  at  which  three  companies  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Pennsylvania  were  landed,  as  a  corps  of  observation,  and 
the  rest  of  the  troops  proceeded  further  up  the  river.  We 
soon  came  to  a  row  of  piles  driven  across  the  channel,  but 
found  that  enough  had  been  removed  to  admit  the  passage 
of  our  vessels.  A  short  distance  beyond  this  point,  and 
at  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  we  landed. 

Battery  Island,  on  which  we  now  found  ourselves,  is 
not  shown,  as  such,  on  any  of  the  maps,  the  dividing  line 
between  it  and  James  Island  being  merely  a  narrow 
marshy  creek,  almost  dry  at  low  water,  and  on  the  map 
it  is  included  within  the  limits  of  the  latter.  We  found 
quite  a  large  fort  and  extensive  rifle  pits  near  our  landing 
place  ;  the  guns  remaining  had  been  spiked  by  the  enemy 
in  their  hasty  flight,  and  our  wonder  grew  as  we  learned 
that  the  "  fiery  "  southerners  had  deserted  the  place  with 
out  firing  a  shot. 

As  soon  as  a  landing  was  effected  a  detachment  from 
the  regiment,  under  command  of  Captain  Elliot,  was  sent 
out  on  a  reconnoissance  ;  a  strong  skirmish  line  was 
formed,  and,  after  pushing  through  the  swamps  and 
woods  for  about  a  mile,  and  reaching  another  of  the 
many  creeks  with  which  the  island  abounded,  the 
enemy  was  discovered  on  the  opposite  side.  No  shots 
were  fired  by  either  party,  and  after  leaving  a  strong 
picket  at  this  point,  which  seemed  to  be  a  general  cross 
ing  place,  our  party  pushed  on  up  the  line  of  the  creek, 
till  near  dark,  without  seeing  any  further  signs  of  the 
enemy,  and  then  returned  to  the  post  already  established. 
The  enemy  could  be  seen  quite  plainly,  and  Captain  Elliot 
decided  to  remain  there  for  the  night,  as  an  outpost,  to 


1 862.  DISCOURAGE  THE  ENEMY.  139 

guard  against  a  surprise  of  the  camp.  The  rebels  in  their 
flight  had  removed  all  the  flat  boats  and  skiffs,  several  of 
which  could  be  seen  drawn  up  among  the  bushes  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  creek.  Nothing  occurred  to  disturb 
our  men  during  the  night,  save  a  single  alarm  caused  by 
the  approach  of  a  few  of  the  enemy's  mounted  men,  who, 
not  being  aware  of  their  presence,  came  stumbling  on  the 
sentries  ;  when  challenged  they  wheeled  about  and  made 
good  their  escape,  followed,  however,  by  the  bullets  from 
half  a  dozen  rifles.  At  day  light  a  cap  clotted  with  blood, 
and  a  cavalry  sabre  lying  near  it,  were  picked  up  near 
the  outpost.  First  blood  was  claimed  and  allowed  for  the 
Highlanders. 

Those  who  had  been  left  behind  in  camp  were  astir  at 
daybreak,  and  after  getting  breakfast,  were  in  the  act  of 
fixing  up  the  tents  more  permanently,  wondering  at  the 
same  time  whether  they  would  stay  long  enough  in  the 
spot  to  make  it  pay,  when  a  horseman  came  galloping  in 
from  the  advance  post,  with  orders  for  the  men  to  "fall 
in  at  once  and  hurry  to  the  front."  When  we  arrived  at 
the  picket  line,  about  a  mile  distant,  the  men  were  drawn 
up  in  line  behind  a  high  hedge,  through  which  we  were 
instructed  to  fire,  in  case  the  skirmish  line  was  driven 
back  ;  we  were  completely  screened  from  view  of  the 
enemy  and  formed  an  excellent  masked  battery.  Heavy 
skirmishing  was  going  on  in  the  field  just  beyond  the 
hedge,  where  about  two  hundred  of  our  men  were 
engaged  ;  two  more  companies  were  sent  to  support  the 
line,  and  as  the  men  advanced  on  the  double  quick, 
deploying  as  they  ran,  they  raised  a  cheer  which  no  doubt 
did  much  to  discourage  the  enemy,  for  they  at  once 
retreated  rapidly  to  the  cover  of  the  woods.  Our  men 
followed  for  some  distance,  but  were  soon  recalled,  we 
being  under  orders  not  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement, 
as  but  a  small  part  of  our  force  had  landed.  The  gun 
boats  now  opened  on  the  woods,  and  when  the  eleven 


140  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

and  fifteen-inch  shells  burst,  the  enemy  retired  beyond 
their  range. 

About  eleven  o'clock  rain  began  to  fall  and  firing  soon 
after  ceased.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  as  nothing 
had  been  seen  or  heard  of  the  enemy  since  mid-day,  com 
panies  B  and  I  were  ordered  out  to  reconnoitre.  We  bore 
off  to  the  left  of  the  line  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the 
woods  in  that  direction,  as  the  enemy  had  been  firing 
some  heavy  guns  from  that  point  in  the  forenoon,  and  the 
detachment  was  ordered  to  ascertain  and  report  whether 
or  not  any  earthworks  had  been  erected.  We  advanced 
about  a  mile  beyond  our  picket  line,  and  had  passed 
through  a  heavy  strip  of  woods  and  emerged  on  an  open 
field,  when  we  saw  in  the  distance  what  appeared  to  be 
several  heavy  guns,  mounted  on  field  carriages.  None  of 
the  enemy  were  in  sight,  but  to  guard  against  an  ambus 
cade,  flankers  were  thrown  out  to  aid  the  skirmish  line, 
and  we  cautiously  advanced.  The  guns  proved  to  be 
three  short  32-pounder  carronades,  mounted  on  heavy, 
old-fashioned  carriages. 

Just  before  reaching  the  guns,  a  man  was  discovered 
lying  on  the  ground,  severely  wounded  ;  he  proved  to  be 
one  of  our  own  men — Clarke,  of  company  G — who  with 
a  few  others  had  been  sent  out  from  the  picket  post,  early 
in  the  morning,  to  reconnoitre  ;  the  little  party  had  been 
fired  on  by  the  enemy,  who  were  concealed  in  the  woods  ; 
all  escaped  save  Clarke,  who  was  badly  wounded  in  the 
side,  his  companions,  in  order  to  save  their  own  lives, 
being  obliged  to  leave  him,  and  we  found  the  poor  fellow 
almost  dead  from  loss  of.  blood.  We  did  all  we  could  to 
ease  his  suffering,  and  promised  to  take  him  back  with 
us  when  we  returned. 

Two  of  the  guns  were  found  to  be  in  good  order,  with 
ropes  attached,  and  a  part  of  our  force  were  detailed  to 
drag  them  back  to  camp  ;  our  wounded  comrade  was 
placed  on  one  of  the  carriages,  made  as  comfortable  as 


i862.  THEIR   FIRST   SHOT.  1-±1 

our  limited  means  would  allow,  and  in  this  way  was 
brought  in  ;  his  wound  proved  mortal,  however,  for  he 
died  the  next  morning. 

After  our  prizes  had  been  sent  off,  we  tried  to  recover 
the  third  gun,  which  had  been  disabled,  owing  to  a  bro 
ken  wheel,  and  lay  half  overturned  in  a  ditch.  Videttes 
were  posted  to  warn  us  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
and  for  a  while  we  tugged  and  pulled,  but  found  it  impos 
sible  to  move  the  piece.  Just  as  we  were  about  to  send 
back  for  assistance,  our  videttes  reported  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy,  accompanied  by  a  piece  of  artillery,  approach 
ing.  We  quickly  fell  into  line  and  retired  to  the  edge  of 
the  woods,  just  as  the  enemy  opened  fire.  The  distance 
was  not  more  than  five  hundred  yards,  and  the  shell  flew 
about  us  in  a  very  careless  manner,  scattering  the  dirt 
and  cutting  down  branches  of  trees,  but  not  injuring  a 
man. 

We  had  taken  a  different  route  from  that  followed  by 
the  detail  with  the  guns,  but  both  parties  were  in  full 
view  of  the  enemy,  who  alternated  his  shots  between  us. 
Perhaps  twenty  rounds  were  fired,  but  as  we  kept 
moving,  the  aim  of  the  rebel  gunners  was  foiled  and  no 
damage  was  done  ;  we  retired  slowly  and  in  good  order, 
to  give  our  men  with  the  prizes  and  our  wounded  com 
rade  a  chance  to  secure  the  trophies.  Our  reserve  was 
nearly  reached  when  a  section  of  Rockwell's  Connecticut 
battery  was  met,  galloping  to  our  support ;  their  pieces 
were  soon  in  position,  and  a  few  well  directed  shots 
silenced  the  enemy.  Up  to  this  moment  we  had  had  no 
artillery  in  the  field  ;  the  Connecticut  battery  was  just 
being  landed  when  the  enemy  opened  on  us,  and  had 
hurried  forward,  arriving  in  time  to  fire  their  first  shot 
at  an  enemy  and  to  silence  his  gun.  When  we  met  our 
party  with  the  prizes,  they  informed  us  that  as  soon  as 
they  saw  the  smoke  from  the  enemy's  gun,  they  would 
halt  land  throw  themselves  flat  on  the  ground  and  lie  there 


SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

till  the  shot  passed,  then  up  and  away  until  the  next 
warning  cry,  when  they  would  repeat  the  operation. 

At  intervals  during  the  afternoon,  the  gun-boats  fired 
shells  at  long  range,  which  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
enemy,  and  also  gave  us  an  opportunity  to  land  the  rest 
of  our  artillery. 

During  a  lull  in  the  firing  a  detatchment  of  three  hun 
dred  men  from  the  Roundheads,  equipped  with  ropes  and 
levers,  and  accompanied  by  a  piece  of  artillery,  was  sent 
out  to  bring  in  the  disabled  gun,  on  reaching  which  they 
attached  the  ropes,  and,  hitching  on  eight  horses, 
attempted  to  drag  the  piece  out  of  the  hole,  but  the  gun 
was  heavy  and  the  rain-soaked  harness  weak,  the  traces 
snapped  and  the  project  was,  for  the  time  being,  aban 
doned.  Just  as  the  drivers  had  the  harness  repaired  and 
the  party  was  about  to  return,  the  enemy  again  appeared, 
but  a  few  shots  from  the  "  Nutmeg"  gun  sent  them  back 
to  cover,  and  the  fighting  for  the  day  was  over. 

It  was  now  getting  dark,  and  our  men  being  relieved  by 
the  Twenty-Eighth  Massachusetts,  returned  to  camp, 
thoroughly  tired  out  with  the  day's  work.  We  only  suc 
ceeded  in  securing  one  prisoner,  a  lieutenant  belonging  to 
the  "  Charleston  Highlanders,"  who  was  acting  as  aid  to 
the  rebel  commander.  He  seemed  quite  relieved  when  he 
found  himself  in  the  hands  of  some  of  his  countrymen, 
and  remarked  :  ' '  Had  I  known  I  was  to  have  been  taken 
prisoner,  I  would  have  worn  my  kilts."  Quite  an  inter 
esting  conversation  took  place  between  him  and  Sergeant 
Campbell,  one  of  our  color  bearers,  who  had  a  brother  in 
the  Charleston  Highlanders  before  the  war,  and  of  whom 
he  now  enquired  ;  he  was  told  that  Lieutenant  Campbell 
was  then  on  the  island,  and  had  been  engaged  with  his 
company  against  us  in  the  morning.  Truly  this  was  a 
fratricidal  strife. 

The  rain  which-  had  fallen  almost  constantly  since 
eleven  o'clock,  besides  wetting  us  to  the  skin,  had  filled 


1862.  A  SORRY   PLIGHT.  143 

the  road  ankle  deep,  and  our  march  back  to  camp  can  be 
imagined  better  than  described.  We  had  paid  little 
attention  to  it  during  the  excitement  of  the  day,  except 
when  we  found  that  the  water,  running  down  the  muz 
zles  of  our  guns,  or  penetrating  the  nipples,  had  wet  our 
powder,  but  on  our  way  back  we  realized  how  very 
uncomfortable  we  were  ;  there  was  no  use  in  trying  to 
pick  our  steps  in  the  dark — on  we  went,  splash,  splash, 
through  thick  and  thin  ;  we  were  in  a  sorry  plight.  But 
how  soon  was  all  this  forgotten  when  we  found  big  roar 
ing  fires  at  the  cooks'  quarters,  and  plenty  of  hot  coffee 
and  fried  bacon  for  supper  !  It  takes  a  soldier's  appetite 
to  enjoy  a  soldier's  fare  and  on  this  occasion  we  furnished 
the  former,  while  the  commissary  saw  to  it  that  there  was 
enough  of  the  latter  to  satisfy  our  most  enlarged  desires. 
If  health  did  not  wait  on  appetite  and  good  digestion  at 
this  time,  a  sound  sleep  did,  for  seldom  in  our  career  as 
soldiers  had  we  been  so  completely  fagged  out. 

When  we  awoke  on  Wednesday  morning,  the  rain, 
still  falling,  had  rendered  our  camp  ground  almost  unin 
habitable.  Nothing  occurred  to  call  us  out  till  about  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  at  which  time  heavy  musketry 
firing  was  heard  at  the  front ;  soon  the  long  roll  was 
sounded,  and  the  Highlanders  were  on  their  way  to  see 
what  was  wanted.  On  reaching  the  outposts  we  found 
the  28th  Massachusetts  engaged  with  the  enemy's  skir 
mishers  ;  the  musketry  fire  soon  ceased  and  the  enemy 
opened  with  artillery,  making  some  good  line  shots,  but 
nearly  all  passed  over  our  heads  ;  we  lay  behind  the 
hedge  that  had  sheltered  us  the  day  before  and  kept 
pretty  close  to  the  ground.  Our  artillery  did  not  reply, 
but  the  gun-boats  were  signalled,  and  after  a  few  of  the 
big  shells  had  burst  near  them,  the  enemy  withdrew. 
We  remained  about  an  hour  longer  and  then  returned  to 
camp. 

During  the  afternoon  the  Eighth  Michican  captured  a 


144  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

gun  similar  to  those  we  had  taken  the  day  before  ;  the 
Michigaiiders  had  been  scouting  in  another  direction  and 
brought  the  gun  home  in  triumph.  Rain  continued  at 
intervals  during  the  day,  and  when  we  lay  down  at  night 
it  had  not  ceased.  Thursday  morning  it  was  still  rain 
ing  !  Would  it  never  stop  ?  We  found  ourselves  in  the 
most  unpleasant  and  uncomfortable  camp  we  had  ever 
occupied,  it  was  surrounded  by  swamps,  and  the  miasma 
rising  from  the  saturated  ground  was  thick  enough  to 
" cut  with  a  knife."  Our  cooking  and  drinking  water 
was  obtained,  as  at  Bay  Point,  by  sinking  a  barrel  in  the 
sandy  soil,  but  the  water  was  brackish  and  unwholesome, 
and  in  civilized  life  would  have  been  considered  unfit 
even  for  animals.  In  order  to  counteract  the  influences 
of  our  surroundings,  the  surgeons  dosed  us  with  quinine 
disolved  in  whiskey  ;  a  certain  quantity  of  the  drug  was 
put  into  a  barrel  of  the  liquid,  and  the  two  thoroughly 
mixed  by  rolling  the  barrel  on  the  ground,  this  duty  was 
much  sought  after  by  certain  of  our  number,  for  reasons 
best  known  to  themselves.  While  this  prescription 
suited  nearly  all  of  the  Highlanders,  a  few  of  us  rebelled, 
not  because  we  disliked  the  whiskey,  however,  but  we 
preferred  to  take  the  quinine  straight — when  ordered— 
and  the  whiskey  likewise — whenever  we  could  get  it. 

About  eleven  o'clock  we  were  called  to  the  front  again, 
but  the  alarm  proved  to  be  unfounded  and  we  soon 
returned.  An  officer  of  the  Eighth  Michigan  had  ven 
tured  a  short  distance  beyond  the  lines,  "just  to  look 
round  a  little,"  as  he  expressed  it,  and  ^vas  fired  upon  by 
the  enemy  ;  he  came  running  back,  shouting,  ' '  Fall  in  ! 
the  rebels  are  advancing  ! "  and  so  the  alarm  was  sent 
into  camp.  At  bed  time  the  ever-present  rain  was  still 
falling !  Whew  !  how  sour  and  mouldy  everything 
about  our  tents  smelled  !  On  the  morning  of  Friday,  the 
6th,  however,  we  were  rejoiced  to  find  the  sun  shining 
once  more. 


1 862.  A  BALLOON  ASCENSION.  14-1) 

After  breakfast  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  prepare 
for  picket  duty  ;  twenty-four  hours'  rations  were  cooked 
and  put  in  our  haversacks,  and  at  five  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  we  marched  to  the  front  and  relieved  the  Bound  - 
heads.  General  Stevens  and  staff  were  on  the  ground  to 
take  a  survey  of  the  lines,  and  were  no  doubt  observed  by 
the  enemy,  for  a  shell  from  one  of  his  guns  struck  the 
ground  near  where  they  stood,  causing  both  General  and 
staff  to  retire  to  a  less  exposed  position.  We  were  not 
disturbed  during  the  night  by  the  rebels,  but  our  other 
enemy  was  not  so  merciful,  for  about  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning  the  rain  began  to  fall  again,  and  continued,  with 
scarcely  an  intermission,  during  the  entire  day.  But  it 
rained  on  the  "unjust "  Johnnies  as  well  as  on  us  "  just " 
Yankees.  We  kept  quiet,  sitting  or  standing  around,  with 
our  rubber  ponchos  over  our  shoulders,  and  examined  our 
muskets,  and  put  on  fresh  caps  occasionally,  in  order  to 
be  sure  of  our  fire  in  case  of  an  emergency. 

A  balloon  ascension  during  the  day  varied  the  monot 
ony  of  the  occasion,  and  from  observations  obtained 
General  Stevens  determined  to  extend  the  lines ;  more 
room  was  needed  for  camping  purposes,  the  arrivals 
during  the  past  few  days  having  crowded  the  only  avail 
able  space  at  our  disposal,  the  two  cavalry  companies 
being  especially  cramped  for  room.  The  enemy  made 
but  little  resistance  to  our  advance,  and  we  pushed  for 
ward  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  which  gave  us  plenty  of 
room  for  both  camp  and  a  parade  ground.  It  was  dark 
before  our  work  was  accomplished,  and  the  rain  was 
pouring  down  as  we  were  relieved  and  started  back  to 
camp.  Our  good  angel  watched  over  us  that  night  and 
we  were  not  disturbed.  Our  lines  were  now  within  a 
mile  of  the  enemy's  works,  which  we  learned  were  loca 
ted  at  the  village  of  Secessionville,  where  a  fort  and  out 
works  had  been  erected  to  bar  our  progress  towards 
Charleston.  Our  scouts  had  been  daring  and  vigilant, 

10 


146  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

and  the  character  of  the  enemy's  works,  with  the  sur 
roundings  and  approaches,  had  been  reported  to  the 
commanding  general. 

For  several  days  nothing  of  special  importance  occurred  ; 
there  was  more  or  less  firing  each  day  on  the  picket  line, 
and  occasionally  our  batteries  and  gun-boats  would  throw 
a  few  shells,  but  we  were  not  called  to  the  front.  On  the 
13th  Captain  Elliot  was  appointed  Major,  vice  Hagadorn, 
resigned.  Our  turn  of  picket  duty  occurred  on  that  day 
also,  and  while  at  the  outposts  we  w~ere  put  to  work 
on  the  batteries  designed  for  heavy  guns.  In  order  to 
protect  us,  by  giving  timely  warning  of  the  enemy's  fire, 
a  man  was  posted  in  a  tree,  who,  as  soon  as  he  saw  the 
smoke  from  the  rebel  gun,  would  cry  ' ( Cover  ! "  At  this 
warning  we  would  drop  flat  on  the  ground  and  lie  there 
till  the  shot  passed  over ;  only  one  of  the  guns  could  reach 
our  position,  but  that  was  a  heavy  rifle,  and  its  fire 
bothered  us  not  a  little.  One  of  our  men,  standing  by  a 
tree,  was  seen  to  fall  as  a  shot  passed  ;  when  picked  up 
he  was  found  to  be  dead,  but  not  a  scratch  or  bruise 
marked  his  person,  and  it  was  popularly  supposed  that 
the  wind  of  the  ball  had  taken  the  breath  from  his  body. 
Two  or  three  others  were  slightly  wounded  by  splinters 
of  wood  and  fragments  of  bursting  shells,  but  we 
considered  ourselves  fortunate  in  getting  off  so  easily. 
During  the  night,  too,  the  rebels  kept  up  a  slow  but 
steady  fire,  in  order  to  retard  our  work  ;  but  by  means 
of  our  lookout,  we  were  enabled  to  avoid  the  shells  and 
get  in  a  good  night's  work  besides. 

The  next  day  we  mounted  two  30-pounder  Parrott 
guns  and  one  64-pounder  James  rifle  ;  these  guns  had 
been  used  at  the  siege  of  Fort  Pulaski,  and  we  believed 
they  would  do  equally  good  service  on  the  enemy's  works 
here.  Their  principal  work,  Tower  Battery,  was  in  full 
view,  distant  about  2,000  yards  from  our  battery,  which 
was  on  the  extreme  right  of  our  line,  protected  by  one 


1862.  BEFORE  THE  BATTLE. 

of  the  many  impassable  swamps  with  which  the  sur 
rounding  country  was  filled  ;  a  short  distance  to  our  left, 
and  about  the  same  distance  from  the  rebel  fort,  was 
another  small  battery,  mounting  two  30-pounder  Parrotts  ; 
these  were  the  only  earthworks  we  had  erected.  As  soon 
as  our  heavy  guns  were  in  position,  we  were  enabled  to 
"jaw  back,"  which  we  did  with  considerable  effect,  and 
the  interchange  'of  compliments  was  kept  up  all  the  next 
day,  Sunday,  the  15th. 

On  this  day,  and  amid  the  rumors  of  an  early  attack 
on  the  enemy's  works,  we  were  paid  off.  A  remark  of 
Captain  " Sandy's,"  uttered  some  time  before,  but  which 
fitted  here  equally  well,  came  to  our  minds  :  "Ay,  that's 
aye  the  way  ;  they  pay  us  the  day,  and  shoot  us  the 
morn  ! "  In  the  afternoon  Madam  Rumor  attested  the  truth 
of  her  bulletin,  for  orders  were  issued  requiring  us  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice,  with  one  day's  rations 
and  forty  rounds  of  ammunition.  It  was  rumored  also 
that  orders  had  been  issued  to  the  effect  that  the  assault 
was  to  be  made  with  empty  muskets,  and  the  enemy's 
works  carried  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  We  didn't 
like  this  plan,  knowing  that  we  would  be  obliged  to  pass 
the  rebel  pickets,  and  as  it  would  be  impossible  to  quietly 
capture  all  of  them,  those  who  escaped  would  warn  the 
fort ;  and  we  did  not  like  the  idea  of  facing  their  mus 
ketry  and  artillery  "with  empty  guns.  Such  was  the  talk 
about  the  camp  fires  on  that  Sabbath  evening,  and  yet 
such  was  the  discipline  of  our  men,  and  their  faith  in  our 
own  little  General,  that  we  were  perfectly  willing  to  abide 
the  result. 

The  night  before  the  battle  is  usually  a  quiet  one  in 
camp,  and  this  occasion  was  no  exception  to  the  rule ; 
the  officers  went  about,  quietly  giving  their  orders,  and 
cautioning  the  men  to  retire  early  and  get  all  the  sleep 
possible,  as  we  would  doubtless  be  called  up  long  before 
daylight.  Their  advice  was  followed,  and  no  one  slept 


148  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

less  soundly,  although  all  were  fully  impressed  with  the 
conviction  that,  before  another  sun  had  set,  his  own 
number  in  the  mess  might  be  missing.  Many  of  us, 
doubtless,  have  often  tried  to  analyze  our  feelings  on  the 
eve  of  battle  ;  but  we  could  not  peer  into  coming  events 
with  any  degree  of  satisfaction,  and,  although  they  often 
"  cast  their  shadows  before,"  we  generally  endeavored  to 
look  beyond  the  clouds,  to  the  possible  sunshine  beyond  ; 
so  we  did  in  this  case,  and  were  soon  asleep. 


1 862.  THE   UNION  FORCE.  149 


CHAPTER  X. 

JAMES  ISLAND  CAMPAIGN.     [CONCLUDED.],  THE  BATTLE  AT 
SECESSION  VI LLE. 

STRENGTH   of  Union   Forces. — Plan    of  Attack. — The  Enemy's  Position. — The 
Advance. — Eighth   Michigan   Lead    the    Charge. — A    Panic-Stricken    Regi 
ment. — The  Highlanders  to  the  Rescue. — On  the  Parapets  of  Tower  Battery. 
— Picking  Off  the  Enemy. — The  Assault  Renewed. — Failure  of  our  Supports 
to  reach    the    Fort.— Why  Don't   Wright   Attack?— Ordered   to    Fall  Back. 
—  Wrestling    Match    on  the    Parapet.  —  How    we    Fell   Back. — A   Narrow 
Escape. — The  Second  Advance. — Halted. — "  They're   Firing  a  Whole  Black 
smith  Shop  at  us!" — How  the  Battery  Horses   Suffered.— Our  Loss.'— Rebel 
Accounts. — Building  Batteries. — Visit  to  Weight's  Lines. — Orders  to  Evacuate. 
—The  Fourth  of  July.—"  Aint  I  Glad  to  Get  Out  of  the  Wilderness." 


T 


HE  Union  force  on  the  island  at  this  time  was  under 
the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Henry  W.  Ben- 
ham,  and  amounted  to  about  ten  thousand  men,  in  two 
divisions,  under  Generals  H.  G.  Wright,  and  Isaac  I.  Ste 
vens.  Our  division,  the  Second,  was  composed  of  two 
brigades  :  the  First,  consisting  of  the  Eighth  Michigan, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Frank  Graves  ;  Seventh  Connecticut, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Jos.  E.  Hawley,  and  the  Twenty- 
Eighth  Massachusetts,  Lieutenant-Colonel  M.  Moore, 
was  under  command  of  Colonel  William  M.  Fenton,  of 
the  Eighth  Michigan  ;  the  Second,  consisting  of  the  Forty- 
Sixth  New  York,  Colonel  Eudolph  Rosa  ;  the  Highland 
ers,  Lieutenant-Colonel  David  Morrison,  and  the  One 
Hundredth  Pennsylvania  Eoundheads,  Major  David  A. 
Lecky,  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Daniel  Leasure,  of 
the  latter  regiment.  The  Eighth  Michigan  and  the  High- 


150  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

landers  held  the  right  of  their  respective  brigades.  Cap 
tain  Alfred  F.  Sears'  company  E,  New  York  Volunteer 
Engineers,  Captain  Alfred  P.  Kockwell's  First  Light  Bat 
tery,  Connecticut  Volunteers,  and  Captain  Lucien  M. 
Sargent,  Jr.'s,  Company  H,  First  Massachusetts  Volun 
teer  Cavalry,  were  also  attached  to  the  division. 

The  plan  of  battle  was  as  follows  :  Stevens'  division 
was  to  attack  the  enemy  in  front  and  endeavor  to  carry 
the  works  by  assault ;  Wright  to  make  a  detour  to  the 
left  and  attack  the  fort  in  flank,  or  support  the  assault 
ing  column,  as  circumstances  might  require.  Our  First 
brigade  was  selected  to  lead  the  assault,  the  Second  to 
follow  closely  in  support. 

The  enemy's  position  is  thus  described  in  a  copy  of  the 
Charleston  Mercury,  issued  shortly  after  the  battle  : 

"The  line  of  defence  is  a  narrow  neck  of  land,  between  two  deep,  impassa 
ble  creeks,  about  thirty  rods  wide.  On  this  is  built  a  battery,  which  completely 
commands  the  approaches  for  about  two  miles — a  heavily  constructed  earthwork, 
with  a  plain  face,  mounting  six  heavy  guns.  The  fort  (Tower  Battery)  is  sur 
rounded  with  a  deep  ditch,  filled  with  water,  and  the  ground  for  some  distance  in 
front  and  on  the  left  was  ditched  aud  dyked  a  great  deal,  so  as  to  make  the  fort 
difficult  of  approach." 

Stretching  from  the  face  of  the  fort  to  the  line  of  woods, 
half  a  mile  or  more  beyond,  was  an  irregular,  fan-shaped 
cotton  field,  the  deep  ridges  of  which  ran  parallel  with 
the  face  of  the  fort  ;  this  field  was  very  narrow  at  the 
fort,  the  solid  ground  being  covered  with  the  defensive 
works,  while  at  the  further  end  it  was  perhaps  half  a 
mile  wide.  It  was  crossed  twice  by  deep  ditches,  dug  for 
the  purpose  of  drainage,  and  which  ran  parallel  with  the 
cotton  ridges,  and  divided  the  clear  field  into  three  nearly 
equal  parts  ;  both  sides  of  the  field  were  lined  with 
swamps,  masked  by  the  usual  growth  of  low  under 
brush. 

It  could  not  have  been  later  than  two  o'clock  on  Mon 
day  morning,  June  16th,  when  the  orderly  sergeants 


JAMES  ISLAND,  S.c 
JUNE,  16, 1862. 


1 862.  THE   MICHIGAN   BOYS.  153 

went  quietly  about  from  tent  to  tent,  and  in  subdued 
tones  roused  us  from  our  deep  slumbers.  Silently  we 
gathered  in  little  groups,  ate  our  crackers  and  drank  our 
coffee — a  meagre  breakfast  on  which  to  perform  a  hard 
day's  work.  Soon  we  were  in  line  and  the  company  com 
manders  announced  that  we  were  to  advance  with  empty 
muskets  and  do  our  work  with  the  bayonet.  Half -sup 
pressed  murmurs  were  heard  here  and  there  along  the 
line,  and  a  few  of  the  chronic  grumblers  determined  to 
load  their  pieces,  even  against  orders.  As  the  First  bri 
gade  reached  the  outposts,  a  skirmish  line  from  the 
Eighth  Michigan  was  deployed,  and  so  quietly  was  the 
advance  made,  that  several  of  the  enemy's  pickets  were 
captured  without  causing  an  alarm.  Soon,  however,  we 
heard  a  shot  fired,  then  another,  and  the  beating  of  the 
long  roll  in  the  distance  warned  us  that  the  enemy  was 
on  the  alert,  and  that  a  complete  surprise  was  impossible. 

The  Michigan  boys  were  perhaps  a  little  excited,  for, 
on  reaching  the  ditch  nearest  the  line  of  woods  and  finding 
but  a  small  party  to  oppose  them,  they  raised  a  cheer  and 
started  for  the  fort  on  the  double  quick.  We  were  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear  when  the  sound  of  the  cheer 
ing  reached  us,  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  being 
between  us  and  the  Eighth  Michigan— daylight  had 
appeared — we  too  started  on  the  double  quick,  and 
reached  the  first  ditch  just  as  the  Eighth  arrived  at  the 
second  ;  after  only  a  moments  delay  to  re-form  our  line, 
we  continued  our  double  quick  march  in  order  to  reach 
the  protection  of  the  second  ditch,  before  the  enemy 
opened  fire.  At  the  moment  of  our  leaving  the  ditch  our 
three  gun  battery  on  the  right  had  fired  just  three  shots 
at  the  fort,  each  of  which  had  struck  in  or  near  that 
work,  throwing  up  clouds  of  sand  and  dirt.  The  enemy 
reserved  his  fire  till  we  were  about  midway  between  the 
two  ditches,  and  then  opened  with  shell  and  shrapnel. 

Halting  at  the  second  ditch  for  a  moment  only,  the 


154:  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

brave  Michiganders,  with  a  ringing  cheer  which  was  ans 
wered  by  us,  dashed  forward.  Two  companies  of  the 
Eighth  went  in  advance  as  the  Forlorn  Hope  with  Captain 
Sears'  company  of  engineers  armed  with  axes  and  other 
implements  to  remove  obstructions,  following. 

The  supporting  regiments  of  the  first  brigade  had  not 
yet  reached  the  second  ditch,  and  in  our  anxiety  to  sup 
port  our  brave  leaders,  the  Highlanders  were  on  a  line 
with  them  when  that  point  was  reached.  The  enemy's 
fire,  apparently,  was  not  directed  so  much  to  the  leading 
regiment  as  to  the  supporting  column,  now  some  three 
hundreds  in  its  rear.  A  regiment  of  the  First  brigade  had 
just  crossed  the  ditch  and  its  officers  were  attempting  to 
re-form  the  line,  when  charge  after  charge  of  grape  was 
poured  into  their  ranks,  and  the  men  became  panic- 
stricken  and  huddled  about  the  colors — an  opportunity  the 
enemy  was  not  slow  to  utilize,  for  the  firing  was 
redoubled,  the  regiment  soon  lost  all  semblance  of  forma 
tion,  and  most  of  the  men  fell  flat  on  the  ground  to  escape 
the  terrible  shower  of  shot  that  was  decimating  their 
ranks. 

The  Highlanders  were  impatient  and  indignant  wit 
nesses  of  this  disgraceful  scene  ;  we  lay  behind  the  ditch 
waiting  for  orders  to  advance,  and  vented  our  indignation 
at  the  conduct  of  these  men,  by  such  epithets  as  soldiers 
use  when  necessity  seems  to  demand  it  ;  we  also  implored 
them  to  go  on  and  save  their  comrades,  and  at  the  same 
time  begged  of  our  own  officers  to  be  allowed  to  advance 
to  the  help  of  those  at  the  fort,  for  we  could  see  the 
Eighth  Michigan  engaged  at  close  quarters  with  the 
enemy.  At  last  the  word  was  given,  and  over  the  ditch 
we  went,  on  the  jump,  and  without  waiting  for  any  line 
formation,  struck  out  on  the  run  for  the  fort.  The  men 
of  the  demoralized  regiment  had  dropped  on  the  ground, 
many  of  them  stretched  out  in  the  cotton  furrows, 
endeavoring  to  cover  themselves  with  the  dirt  and  litter 


1 862.  REACHED  THE  PARAPET.  155 

of  the  field  ;  as  we  approached  they  cried  out  "  Faugh  a 
Ballach,  Seventy-Ninth  !  give  the  rebels  hell  !  we'll  be 
after  yees  ! "  We  were  in  too  much  of  a  hurry  to  pay 
proper  attention  to  these  patriotic  remarks,  but  our  heels 
and  musket  butts  came  down  upon  the  "Faughs"  as 
opportunity  offered  in  our  hurried  course  over  their  pros 
trate  bodies.  (This  was  the  first  general  engagement  in 
which  this  regiment  had  taken  part,  and  all  due  allow 
ance  should  be  made  on  that  account.  Their  subsequent 
career  showed  they  were  made  of  good  stuff,  and  at 
Chantilly  especially,  they  exhibited  as  much  bravery  as 
any  regiment  in  the  field). 

In  our  rush  we  encountered  the  right  flank  of  the 
Seventh  Connecticut,  whose  center  had  been  broken  by 
the  enemy's  fire,  and  whose  commander  was  endeavoring 
to  re-form  its  line  ;  we  hurried  past  them,  pell-mell,  in 
our  eagerness  to  arrive  at  the  fort  and  assist  our  storming 
party.  Two  of  Eockwell's  guns  had  taken  position  behind 
the  ditch  we  had  just  left,  and  soon  opened  a  rapid  fire 
on  that  part  of  the  fort  not  occupied  by  our  assaulting 
party.  Several  charges  of  grape  from  the  fort  had  passed 
through  our  own  ranks  and  a  number  of  men  had  been 
killed  before  we  reached  the  scene  of  action. 

Noticing  that  the  heaviest  fighting  was  on  the  right  of 
the  fort,  we  bore  off  in  that  direction  and  cheered  lustily 
as  we  reached  the  abattis  and  ditch.  We  found  the 
only  approach  to  be  a  narrow  passageway  between  the 
fort  and  rifle  pits  ;  through  this,  led  by  our  gallant  com 
manding  officer,  many  of  our  men  pushed  their  way  and 
reached  the  parapet  of  the  fort.  Here  for  a  few  minutes 
we  were  targets  for  the  enemy's  rifles  and  a  number  of 
us  who  had  mounted,  dropped  into  the  ditch  followed  by 
many  others  who  had  reached  the  edge,  taking  such  posi 
tions  as  would  enable  us  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  serv 
ing  the  guns,  and  also  to  pick  off  any  who  might  show 
themselves  above  the  parapet.  This  duty  was  well  per- 


156 


SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS. 


June, 


HIGHLANDERS   AT   TOWER   BATTERY. 

formed,  and  while  thus  engaged  and  anxiously  looking 
for  re-inforcements,  one  or  two  regiments  appeared 
advancing  in  line  of  battle  to  our  relief,  on  noticing  which 
we  stopped  firing  for  a  moment  and  gave  three  ringing 
cheers  ;  this  momentary  relaxation  of  vigilance  on  our 
part  however,  gave  the  enemy  time  to  load  their  guns 
which  were  instantly  discharged  at  the  advancing  columns 
—then  at  close  range — which  broke  them  up  and  caused 
them  to  fall  back.  -  No  other  re-inforcements  appearing 
we  resumed  our  firing,  being  directed  by  Lieut. -Col.  Mor 
rison  to  watch  carefully,  and  damage  the  enemy  as  much 
as  possible,  whose  fire  on  the  right  of  the  fort  was  telling 
heavily  upon  the  ranks  of  the  Eighth  Michigan,  as  well  as 
on  our  own  men. 

These  two  regiments  had,  thus  far,  been  fighting  the 
garrison,  almost  unaided,  and  at  great  odds,  and  many 
a  noble  fellow  had  already  been  cut  down  by  the  enemy 


1 862.  A  PLUCKY  FOE.  157 

who  were  comparatively  safe  behind  their  breastworks. 
Not  all  of  our  division  was  rendering  the  service  expected 
of  them,  and  where  was  the  division  of  General  Wright, 
that  was  to  co-operate  on  our  left  ?  To  remain  in  our 
present  position  could  only  result  in  further  depleting 
our  ranks  without  the  opportunity  to  inflict  upon  the 
enemy  corresponding  loss.  To  retreat  was  to  offer  the 
enemy  a  better  chance  to  cut  us  down  by  the  fire  from 
their  heavy  guns  ;  nor  was  retreating  considered  by  the 
commander  of  the  Highlanders  at  this  time,  and  he 
determined  to  again  attempt  to  carry  the  work  by  assault. 
A  hasty  consultation  with  a  few  of  his  subordinates  was 
held,  and  in  a  few  minutes,  with  a  cheer  we  mounted 
the  parapet,  with  the  intention  of  entering  the  fort  and 
carrying  it  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  It  was  still  well 
defended  however,  by  a  plucky  foe  who  had  now  been 
largely  re-iiiforced,  and  we  were  met  by  a  withering  fire 
which  carried  many  of  our  comrades  to  the  ditch  below, 
and  among  the  wounded  were  our  commander,  Morrison, 
and  Lieutenants  Robertson  and  Kinhear. 

To  persist  in  the  attempt  to  carry  the  fort  with  the 
handful  of  men  now  remaining  would  be  madness,  and 
we  could  only  remain  and  continue  to  inflict  such  loss 
upon  the  enemy  as  opportunity  offered,  until  recalled 
from  our  precarious  position  by  superior  authority.  We 
cast  wistful  glances  towards  the  troops  in  the  rear,  from 
whom  we  had  hoped  to  receive  such  aid  as  would  have 
enabled  us  to  successfully  storm  and  capture  the  works, 
and  we  continued  in  vain  to  hope  for  the  attack  by 
Wright's  division  on  our  left,  but  not  a  sound  was  heard 
from  the  direction  whence  we  expected  the  column  to 
appear. 

About  a  fourth  of  the  Highlanders  had  been  killed  and 
wounded,  the  Eighth  Michigan  had  also  suffered  severely, 
and  by  their  noble  behavior  in  this  their  first  serious 
battle  had  covered  themselves  with  glory.  At  length 


158  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

the  order  to  retire  came  from,  our  brigade  commander, 
and  just  as  those  on  the  parapet  were  about  to  turn  and 
drop  into  the  ditch,  a  rebel,  more  daring  than  his  com 
panions,  thinking  to  make  prisoner  a  live  and  unwounded 
Yankee,  attempted  to  seize  one  of  the  Highlanders,  Van 
Horseii  of  Company  E,  by  the  feet  and  drag  him  into 
the  fort  ;  Van  Horseii  objected  to  being  captured  in  such 
an  ignoble  manner  and  a  struggle  ensued  in  which  our 
man  proved  the  stronger,  for,  seizing  the  rebel  by  the 
hair  of  his  head  and  coat  collar  he  "  Yanked  "  him  out 
of  the  fort,  and  bore  him  off  in  triumph,  the  would-be- 
captor  now  the  captured  ! 

We  rallied  around  our  colors  and  fell  back  slowly  and 
sullenly  to  the  ditch  and  embankment  nearest  the  fort, 
subjected  meanwhile  to  a  lively  fire  from  the  enemy,  who, 
as  soon  as  we  left  our  position  at  the  breastworks,  were 
enabled  to  fully  man  their  heavy  guns  and  hurl  after  us 
their  deadly  missiles.  We  dreaded  falling  back  more  than 
remaining  at  the  fort ;  the  thought  of  running  the  gaunt 
let  of  the  terrible  fire  that  we  knew  the  enemy  would  pour 
into  our  backs,  was  not  only  discouraging  but  humiliating. 
A  comrade,  recalling  the  occasion  writes  :  "  I  remember 
as  of  yesterday,  my  feelings  during  the  few  minutes  that 
elapsed  before  we  reached  the  ditch — how  I  dreaded  being 
shot  in  the  back  !  With  a  view  to  prevent  such  a  wound 
I  went  back  over  the  cotton  ridges  sideways,  keeping 
one  eye  on  the  fort,  and  when  I  saw  a  gun  discharged, 
instantly  turned  and  presented  my  face  to  the  foe,  in 
order  that  if  I  were  hit  it  should  not  be  in  the  back." 

Once  behind  the  embankment  our  ranks  were  re-formed 
and  as  the  enemy's  fire  increased  we  lay  down  to  escape 
the  shot,  shell  and  old  junk,  that  was  plowing  the  ground 
all  about  us.  The  failure  of  Wright  to  support  our 
attack  was  the  principal  topic  of  conversation  and  many 
were  the  surmises  as  to  the  cause.  It  afterwards  appeared 
that  the  natural  obstacles,  as  well  as  trees  felled  by  the 


i862.  A  CLOSE  SHAVE.  l.V.i 

enemy  in  his  line  of  march,  had  retarded  his  progress,  and 
it  was  not  until  after  we  had  fallen  back  that  he  reached 
the  designated  point,  only  to  find  the  deep  creek  with 
marshy  banks  confronting  him,  the  only  passage  across 
which  was  a  narrow  causeway  swept  and  enfiladed  by 
the  guns  of  the  fort.  We  soon  heard  firing  in  this  direc 
tion,  first  a  few  scattering  shots,  then  a  regular  volley  ; 
for  a  few  moments  we  thought  Wright  had  effected  a 
lodgment,  and  were  preparing  to  advance  again,  but  the 
firing  soon  ceased  and  we  knew  that  his  assault  too,  had 
proved  a  failure.  Had  Wright  reached  the  point  at  the 
time  we  were  at  the  fort  and  its  guns  silenced,  he  could 
have  crossed  without  opposition  and  the  day  would  have 
been  ours. 

Another  section  of  Rockwell's  guns  now  arrived,  and 
from  their  position  behind  the  embankment  poured  a 
rapid  fire  into  the  fort  ;  the  enemy  replied  vigorously 
and  several  of  the  battery  horses  were  killed.  After 
emptying  their  limber  chests  the  pieces  were  withdrawn, 
others  took  their  place  but  the  firing  was  productive  of 
no  good  results.  While  lying  here  we  were  obliged  to 
spread  ourselves  out  flat  on  the  ground  as  the  bank  of 
earth  was  quite  low  ;  one  of  our  men  had  been  lying 
with  his  knees  drawn  up,  and  in  order  to  relieve  them 
from  that  cramped  position,  was  just  in  the  act  of  stretch 
ing  out  his  legs  when  a  shot  tore  off  the  top  of  the  bank, 
where,  an  instant  before,  his  knees  had  rested  ;  the  dirt 
and  sand  displaced  by  the  shot  completely  covered  him 
for  a  moment,  and  his  companions  thought  he  was  killed, 
but  after  scraping  the  dirt  out  of  his  eyes  and  ears  he 
was  found  to  be  unhurt.  "A  close  shave" — some  one 
remarked — "  but  a  miss  is  as  good  as  a  mile."  It  is  need 
less  to  say  that  the  person  most  interested  spread  himself 
out  pretty  flat  after  that. 

Our  color  bearer  learned  from  our  solitary  prisoner 
that  his  brother  was  in  the  fort  in  command  of  his  com- 


160  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

pany,  but  as  they  did  not  meet  face  to  face  on  the  field  a 
thrilling  and  romantic  incident  was  spoiled. 

The  command  to  ' '  fall  back  to  the  ditch  nearest  the 
woods,  there  to  await  further  orders,"  was  now  given, 
and  we  prepared  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  another  raking 
fire.  Our  heavy  gun  batteries  opened  a  rapid  fire  on  the 
fort  as  we  started,  our  field  batteries  too,  from  a  position 
in  the  rear,  added  their  fire,  so  that  only  a  few  shots 
were  directed  at  us,  none  of  which  took  effect  ;  we 
passed  the  second  ditch  and  found  shelter  in  the  edge  of 
the  woods.  General  Stevens  met  us  and  complimented 
us  on  the  ' '  heroism  and  bravery  displayed  on  this  occa 
sion,"  he  was  "only  sorry,"  he  said,  "that  General 
Wright  had  not  been  able  to  come  up  in  time,  for  then 
surely  the  day  would  have  been  ours."  The  wounded 
that  we  were  able  to  bring  off  the  field  with  us  were  car 
ried  to  the  rear  and  placed  in  care  of  the  surgeons. 

It  was  now  only  about  half  past  eight  o'clock,  yet  it 
seemed  as  though  a  whole  day  had  passed  since  the 
attack  was  first  made.  Orders  were  soon  received  to  pre 
pare  for  another  attack.  Gen.  Benham,  now  that  Wright 
had  attained  his  position,  being  desirous  of  making 
another  attempt.  We  formed  into  line  again,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Morrison,  somewhat  pale  from  loss  of  blood,  and 
with  a  handkerchief  tied  over  the  wound  in  his  head, 
leading  the  way  ;  he  refused  to  relinquish  the  command, 
even  at  the  earnest  solicitations  of  the  officers  ;  drawing 
his  sword  he  exclaimed  "Follow  me  Highlanders  !  "  and 
off  we  started.  Our  progress  across  the  open  field  was 
not  contested,  the  enemy  doubtless  reserving  his  fire  for 
closer  action.  On  reaching  the  ditch  nearest  the  fort  our 
progress  was  arrested  by  Capt.  Stevens,  adjutant-general 
of  our  division,  who  ordered  us  to  halt  there  and  secure 
ourselves  behind  the  bank. 

The  enemy  now  opened  with  grape  and  canister — yes— 
and  with  scrap  iron  too,  for  bolts,  pieces  of  railroad  iron 


1 862.  EXTRACTS   FROM   REPORTS.  161 

and  other  missies  flew  all  about  us.  As  one  wag  remarked 
while  he  picked  up  something  from  the  ground  :  "They're 
firing  a  whole  blacksmith  shop  at  us  !  Here's  the  ham 
mer,  the  anvil  will  come  next ! " 

A  section  of  the  Connecticut  battery  followed  us  and 
was  soon  exchanging  compliments  with  the  fort.  While 
but  one  man  of  the  battery  was  killed,  the  poor  horses 
suffered  greatly  ;  a  shot  entered  the  haunch  of  one,  tore 
its  way  through  and  wounded  the  one  alongside,  a  pistol 
bullet  ended  their  sufferings  ;  after  several  more  animals 
had  been  killed,  and  the  limber  chests  emptied,  the 
pieces  were  withdrawn.  We  lay  here  perhaps  an  hour ; 
the  gun-boats  had  been  signalled  to  fire,  but  the 
range  was  so  long  that  several  of  their  shells  burst  behind 
us  and  their  fire  soon  ceased.  Our  position  was  a  very 
uncomfortable  one,  and  we  began  to  wonder  why — unless 
an  advance  was  to  be  made — we  were  kept  in  such  an 
exposed  position  ;  we  could  see  the  fort  swarming  with 
the  enemy,  and  many  of  them  at  work  strengthening  the 
point  at  which  we  had  entered  the  works.  As  the  artil 
lery  withdrew  we  were  ordered  to  follow,  the  order  for 
attack  having  been  countermanded.  The  enemy  made 
no  attempt  to  follow  us  as  we  retired  from  the  field,  and 
after  posting  a  strong  picket  line  with  heavy  reserves, 
the  balance  of  the  troops  retired  to  their  camps. 

We  found  it  was  eleven  o'clock  when  our  camp  was 
reached,  showing  we  had  been  on  the  field  about  seven 
hours.  The  loss  in  the  regiment  was  one  hundred  and 
ten  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  ;  the  prisoners  were 
all  wounded  at  the  fort,  and  we  were  obliged  to  leave 
them  in  the  enemy's  hands. 

The  following  extracts  from  reports  of  various  officers 
will  be  of  interest.  Eef erring  to  the  time  when  the  lead 
ing  brigade  had  passed  the  ditch  nearest  the  fort,  General 
Stevens  says  : 

11 


162  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

"  The  firing  now  became  general  and  continuous  in  front.  The  advance  of 
the  Eighth  Michigan  was  on  the  parapet.  The  light  battery  of  Rockwell's  was 
immediately  pushed  to  the  front,  and  took  its  position  at  the  hedge  [ditch,  see 
map~]t  and  the  Highlanders,  led  by  Morrison,  seeing  the  hot  fire  to  which  the 
Eighth  Michigan  was  exposed,  pushed  forward  at  the  double  quick,  and  moving 
from  the  left  (?)  to  the  right  of  the  field,  entered  a  narrow  opening,  gained  the 
parapet  to  the  right  of  the  point  reached  by  the  Eighth  Michigan,  and  shot  down 
the  enemy  whilst  serving  the  guns." 

In  a  letter  to  General  Hunter,  Stevens  further  says  : 

"  Quite  a  number  of  the  Eighth  Michigan  and  Seventy-Ninth  Highlanders 
gained  the  ditch  and  parapet  of  the  work.  All  the  regiments  pushed  close  up  to 
the  work,  and  more  or  less  men  of  each  made  lodgments  at  the  marsh  and  abattis 
on  either  side.  The  Seventy-Ninth  Highlanders  went  into  fire  the  fourth  regi 
ment.  They  passed  the  Seventh  Connecticut  and  Twenty-Eighth  Massachusetts, 
and  actually  supported  at  the  parapet,  as  every  one  admits,  the  Eighth  Michigan. 
They  passed  those  regiments,  too,  within  less  than  200  yards  of  the  enemy's 
work.  The  Highlanders  have  been  in  many  battles  and  skirmishes,  are  very 
expert  in  drill,  and  are  indeed  old  soldiers." 

Colonel  Leasure,  who  was  on  the  left  of  our  regiment 
as  we  dashed  forward,  says  : 

"At  this  point,  together  with  the  left  wing  of  the  Seventy-Ninth  New  York 
Volunteers,  we  entered  the  range  of  a  perfect  storm  of  grape,  canister,  nails,  bro 
ken  glass,  and  pieces  of  chains,  fired  from  three  very  large  pieces  on  the  fort, 
which  completely  swept  every  foot  of  ground  within  the  range,  and  either  cut  the 
men  down  or  drove  them  to  the  shelter  of  the  ravine.  *  *  *  Many  of  the 
men  reached  the  foot  of  the  embankment,  and  some  succeeded  in  mounting  it, 
with  a  few  brave  men  of  the  Seventy-Ninth,  who  were  there  with  a  portion  of  the 
Eighth  Michigan.  It  was  here  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Morrison  was  wounded, 
and  many  of  the  Seventy-Ninth  either  killed  or  wounded,  as  were  also  some  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Pennsylvania.  *  *  *  I  may  be  permitted  to  report  fur 
ther,  that  at  the  time  I  arrived  in  front  of  the  hedge  [ditch]  nearest  the  fort,  I 
saw  nothing  of  any  part  of  the  supporting  regiments  of  the  First  brigade  between 
the  advancing  Highlanders  and  the  fort,  and  only  a  portion  of  the  Eighth  Michi 
gan,  who  led  the  attack  in  front  of  the  fort,  that  regiment  having  already  been 
decimated  by  the  murderous  fire  through  which  we  had  all  to  pass." 

From  Lieutenant-Colonel  Morrison's  report  we  quote  : 
•  . 

"As  I  mounted  the  parapet  I  received  a  wound  in  the  head,  which,  though 
slight,  stunned  me  for  the  time  being,  but  still  I  was  able  to  retain  command. 
With  me  many  mounted  the  works,  but  only  to  fall  or  receive  their  wounds  from 


1 862.  CHARLESTON  MERCURY.  163 

the  enemy,  posted  in  the  rifle  pits  in  rear  of  the  fort.  I  ordered  the  right  wing  of 
the  regiment  to  post  itself  behind  the  intrenchments  at  the  left  of  the  fort  which 
drove  them  (the  enemy)  back  and  held  them  in  check. 

"  From  the  parapets  I  had  a  full  view  of  their  works.  They  were  intrenched 
in  a  position  well  selected  for  defensive  purposes,  and  upon  which  our  artillery 
seemed  to  have  little  effect,  save  driving  them  into  their  retreats,  and  in  attempt 
ing  to  dislodge  them  we  were  met  with  a  fierce  and  determined  opposition;  but 
with  equal,  if  not  superior,  determination  and  courage  were  they  met  by  our 
forces,  and  had  I  been  supported,  could  have  carried  their  works." 

The  total  loss  on  our  side  was  683,  of  which  our  division 
sustained  529. 

The  force  of  the  enemy  consisted  of  ten  regiments  and 
battalions,  and  was  under  the  command  of  Brigadier- 
General  Nathan  G.  Evans.  Colonel  T.  G.  Lamar,  First 
South  Carolina  Artillery,  commanding  the  post  of  Seces- 
sionville,  says,  that  when  the  assault  was  first  made, 
there  were  only  about  500  men  in  and  about  the  fort ;  it 
is  therefore  clear,  that,  as  Lieutenant- Colonel  Morrison 
says,  "had  1  been  supported  I  could  have  carried  the 
works."  The  enemy  reported  a  total  loss  of  204. 

The  Charleston  Mercury,  in  its  account  of  the  battle, 
referring  to  the  regiment,  used  this  language  : 

"  It  was  left  to  the  valiant  Palladins  of  the  North,  to  the  brave  7Qth  High 
landers,  to  test  the  virtue  of  unadulterated  cold  steel  on  our  Southern  nerves; 
but  they  terribly  mistook  their  foe,  for  they  were  rolled  back  in  a  tide  of  blood. 
Thank  God,  Lincoln  has,  or  had,  only  one  79th  regiment;  for  there  is  only  a 
remnant  left  to  tell  the  tale.  The  soldiers  who  can  make  such  a  charge,  and 
those  who  can  stand  it,  their  condition  being  equal,  are  the  parties  to  win  a  war." 

For  the  next  day  or  two  we  were  fully  occupied  in 
recounting  the  incidents  of  the  battle,  and  wondering 
how  our  poor  wounded  comrades  were  faring  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  We  afterwards  learned  that  they  had 
fallen  among  good  Samaritans,  the  Charleston  High 
landers  doing  all  in  their  power  to  alleviate  their  suffer 
ings  and  render  their  captivity  as  easy  as  their  limited 
circumstances  would  permit. 

(NOTE. — An  unfortunate  controversy  arose  between  Generals  Hunter,  Ben- 


164  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

ham,  Wright  and  Stevens,  over  the  engagement  just  described.  General  Benham 
was  placed  under  arrest  by  General  Hunter;  he  was  sent  North,  and  subse 
quently  his  appointment  as  Brigadier-General  was  revoked,  without  his  being 
allowed  to  see  the  charges  preferred,  or  having  an  opportunity  of  defending 
himself  before  a  court  of  enquiry.  He  was  afterwards  reinstated,  however,  and 
rose  to  the  brevet  rank  of  Major-General  in  the  regular  army.  While  endeavor 
ing  to  obtain  a  hearing,  which  was  justly  his  due,  he  attributed  the  failure  of  the 
assault  to  General  Stevens;  even  charging  that  he  kept  so  far  in  the  rear  of  his 
troops  that  he  could  not  intelligently  direct  their  operations.  General  Benham 
should  have  known  Stevens  better.  No  soldier  who  ever  drew  sword  or  shoul 
dered  musket,  was  braver  or  more  indifferent  to  his  own  life  when  it  became 
necessary  to  expose  it,  than  Isaac  I.  Stevens.  The  man  who  first  leaped  ashore 
on  the  main  land  of  South  Carolina,  with  our  regimental  flag  in  his  hand,  in  order 
to  set  an  example  to  his  followers,  and  who  received  his  death  wound  while 
waving  that  flag  aloft,  within  a  few  yards  of  the  enemy's  line  of  musketry  fire  at 
Chantilly,  is  not  the  man  that  General  Benham's  enmity  could  traduce.  Benham's 
letters  were  written  from  the  North,  while  Stevens  was  still  alive  and  fighHng  the 
battles  of  his  country  in  Virginia,  but  he  had  neither  time  nor  opportunity  for 
reply.  The  volume  (XIV)  of  the  Official  Records  of  the  Rebellion,  containing 
the  reports  of  the  campaign  and  the  correspondence,  has  just  (December,  1885) 
been  published,  and  this  mention  of  the  matter  is  due  to  the  memory  of  one  of 
the  best,  bravest,  and  most  skillful  officers  that  ever  rendered  up  his  life  in  defence 
of  his  country.) 

The  17th  was  celebrated  by  another  rain-storm  and  our 
quarters  on  Battery  Island  were  in  a  horrible  condition  ; 
we  wondered  why  we  could  not  move  over  to  James 
Island,  where  the  ground  was  higher  and  the  water  bet 
ter.  On  the  18th  the  regimsiit  took  its  turn  on  picket 
duty  and  all  remained  quiet  along  the  lines  during  our 
twenty-four  hours  vigil.  General  Stevens  issued  one  of 
his  characteristic  orders  in  which  he  highly  complimented 
the  division  for  the  heroism  displayed  on  the  16th,  men 
tioning  the  names  of  our  Lieut.  Colonel  and  those  officers 
who  had  been  killed  at  the  fort.  On  this  day  too,  all  the 
wounded  who  could  bear  removal  were  transferred  to 
Hilton  Head  in  charge  of  the  chaplain.  Lieutenant 
James  Kinnear,  who  had  been  mortally  wounded  died, 
and  on  the  20th  was  buried  with  military  honors.  On 
this  day  too,  we  moved  our  camp  to  James  Island,  and 
found  the  change  a  decided  improvement  ;  there  was  a 


1 862.  SPIRES  OF  CHARLESTON.  165 

good  well  near  by  our  camp  and  the  water  was  appreci 
ated.  An  observatory  had  been  erected  from  which,  on 
a  clear  day,  the  spires  of  Charleston  and  the  forts  in  the 
harbor — "So  near  and  yet  so  far" — could  be  distinctly 
seen. 

On  the  21st  Colonel  Farnsworth,  and  Capt.  Laing  from 
the  recruiting  rendezvous,  arrived  ;  large  supplies  of 
stores  and  munitions  of  war  also  reached  us,  and  the 
men  were  kept  busy  unloading  the  vessels.  Several 
heavy  guns  had  been  landed,  and  large  details  were  made 
to  build  earthworks  for  their  reception,  ordeis  having 
been  received  directing  our  division  to  fortify  its  position 
and  lose  no  time  about  it, 

On  Sunday  the  2  2nd  occurred  a  very  interesting  cere 
mony  in  which  every  member  of  the  regiment  was  called 
upon  to  participate  ;  this  was  nothing  less  than  the  pre 
sentation  to  Gen.  Stevens — by  the  enlisted  men — of  a 
handsome  sword,  belt,  sash,  and  a  pair  of  gold- mounted 
spurs.  The  matter  had  been  worked  up  before  we  left 
Beaufort,  and  the  order  sent  to  Tiffany  of  New  York  ; 
the  arrangements  were  in  the  hands  of  a  committee 
appointed  by  ourselves,  who  acquitted  themselves  credit 
ably  during  the  ceremony. 

The  regiment  paraded  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Farnsworth.  We  donned  our  best  clothes  and  wore  white 
gloves.  On  reaching  the  General's  quarters  three  sides  of 
a  square  were  formed,  the  General  and  staff  occupying 
the  fourth  side,  while  the  committee  with  the  presents 
and  address  stood  in  the  centre.  Ross  of  Company  A 
read  the  address,  while  Crane  of  Company  B  handed  the 
articles  to  the  general.  The  sword  was  a  very  beautiful 
one,  with  dress  and  service  scabbards,  and  cost  §550.00  ; 
the  spurs  which  were  the  gift  of  the  drum-corps,  cost 
$25.00. 

The  response  of  the  general  was  touching,  and  he  was 
much  affected  while  speaking  ;  he  called  us  his  "  Beloved 


166  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

Highlanders,"  his  "  Soldiers  of  the  Coosaw,"  and  hoped 
ours  would  he  the  last  regiment  he  would  be  called  upon 
to  part  with. 

Although  anti-malaria  whiskey  had  been  liberally  dis 
pensed  by  the  surgeons,  it  did  not  prevent  a  long  line  of 
"sick,  lame  and  lazy,"  from  visiting  the  doctors'  quar 
ters  whenever  the  sick  call  was  sounded.  There  were 
very  few  serious  cases  of  sickness  however,  as  was  proved 
by  the  fact,  that  when  a  bright  idea  entered  the  surgeon's 
head,  and  he  changed  the  prescription  from  quinine  and 
whiskey  to  quinine  alone,  the  "  sick  list  "  rapidly 
decreased. 

One  day  a  few  of  us  visited  Wright's  division  for  the 
purpose  of  seeing  some  friends  in  the  Sixth  Connecticut, 
and  also  to  observe  the  work  the  men  of  the  First  divi 
sion  were  doing  in  the  way  of  fortifying  their  part  of  the 
line.  We  found  the  Connecticut  boys  on  the  advanced 
picket  line,  in  skirmishing  order,  and  lying  flat  on  their 
stomachs  watching  the  enemy  with  whom  they  exchanged 
frequent  shots.  Not  being  aware  of  the  situation  we 
walked  boldly  up  to  the  line  and  drew  a  volley  from  the 
rebels,  which  caused  us  to  flop  down  rather  unceremo 
niously,  and  as  the  surroundings  were  not  particularly 
pleasant  we  made  but  a  formal  call  and  crawled  away 
from  the  lines  and  returned  to  camp. 

New  earthworks  were  being  constantly  erected  and 
appearances  all  pointed  to  a  permanent  occupation  of  the 
island.  On  Friday,  the  27th,  while  hard  at  work,  and 
felicitating  ourselves  that  the  enemy  was  ignorant  of  the 
position  of  our  new  batteries,  he  opened  with  the  long- 
range  gun,  and  planted  the  first  shell  so  close  to  us,  that 
a  man  of  Company  F  was  instantly  killed,  and  one  of 
Company  B  wounded.  Seven  other  shots  were  fired,  all 
striking  in  or  near  our  works,  but  as  the  look-out  warned 
us  in  time,  we  secured  ourselves  before  the  others  reached 
us.  Work  was  pushed  night  and  day  ;  at  night  we 


1 862.  THE  HARD  LABOR.  167 

would  mount  the  guns,  and  were  just  beginning  to  see 
the  end  of  our  heavy  drudgery,  when,  on  the  29th,  as  the 
day  relief  was  returning,  and  the  night  squad  about  to 
continue  the  labor,  orders  to  suspend  operations  were 
received,  and  immediately  after  came  the  further  orders 
to  dismount  the  guns  we  had  spent  so  much  time  and 
labor  in  placing  in  position. 

We  afterwards  learned  that  this  was  in  accordance 
with  orders  from  the  war  department,  directing  the  evac 
uation  of  the  island.  We  were  not  sorry  to  leave,  and 
yet  the  prerogatives  of  a  soldier  were  freely  indulged  in  ; 
curses,  loud  and  deep,  and  a  great  deal  of  grumbling  were 
to  be  heard,  because  of  the  hard  labor  we  had  endured, 
all  for  naught. 

On  the  1st  of  July  we  were  sent  out  on  picket,  and 
thus  escaped  the  drudgery  of  heavy  work  ;  the  evacua 
tion  was  pushed  so  rapidly,  however,  that  on  the  2nd 
several  regiments  embarked  on  the  transports.  During 
our  turn  on  picket  we  captured  one  of  the  enemy  who 
had  ventured  too  near  our  lines.  When  discovered,  he 
attempted  to  run  back,  but  cries  of  "Halt !"  reinforced 
with  a  bullet  or  two  which  came  uncomfortably  near, 
brought  him  to  a  stand. 

On  the  3rd  nearly  all  of  General  Wright's  division  had 
embarked,  "  Quakers  "  had  been  mounted  in  the  place  of 
some  of  the  guns  removed,  and  the  enemy  did  not  appear 
to  be  aware  of  our  movements.  At  one  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  fourth  we  were  turned  out,  hot  coffee 
awaited  us,  after  drinking  which  we  struck  tents  and 
packed  our  knapsacks ;  at  daylight  we  marched  to  the 
landing  but  found  the  steamer  Delaware,  on  which  we 
were  to  embark,  aground,  and  it  was  nine  o'clock 
before  the  tide  floated  her  off.  At  noon,  precisely,  the 
gun-boat  Pawnee,  and  a  battery  on  shore,  fired  a  national 
salute,  the  rain  was  pouring  down  at  the  time  and  we 
tried  hard  to  feel  patriotic.  Shortly  after  12  o'clock  we 


168  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

steamed  away,  the  band  from  its  position  on  the  quarter 
deck  echoing  the  sentiments  of  every  man  in  the  regi 
ment,  by  playing  the  popular  air — "Ain't  I  glad  to  get 
out  of  the  Wilderness." 


1862.  WAS  HEARD  TO  EXCLAIM.  169 


CHAPTER  XI. 

FROM  JAMES  ISLAND  TO  NEWPORT  NEWS. 

ARRIVAL  at  Beaufort. — "Great  God!  Dere  comes  de  Seventy-Nine  Agen !"— 
Return  to  Hilton  Head. — The  First  Colored  Troops. — In  Camp  on  Hilton 
Head. — The  Highlanders  Extend  Courtesies  to  the  Eighth  Michigan. — Orders 
to  Move. — To  Beaufort  Again. — Smith's  Plantation. — Moving  On. — Bowery 
Fare  and  Delmonico  Prices. — At  Sea. — A  Pleasant  Tourney. — Condensed 
Water. — A  Dollar  for  a  Canteen  of  Ice  Water. — Arrival  at  Newport  News, 
Virginia. 

TJILTON  HEAD  was  reached  about  nine  o'clock  in  the 
A  A  evening,  where  we  dropped  anchor,  and  remained 
till  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  w^hen  we  pro 
ceeded  to  Beaufort.  On  approaching  the  dock  we  saw  it 
lined  with  people,  white  and  black,  male  and  female,  sol 
diers  and  civilians  ;  for  by  this  time  a  great  many  mis 
sionaries  and  traders  had  arrived  from  the  north.  One 
young  wench  was  heard  to  exclaim,  as  she  recognized  the 
uniform  of  the  regiment :  * '  Great  God  !  Dere  comes  de 
seventy-nine  agen ! " 

As  soon  as  the  boat  touched  the  wharf,  the  men  broke 
for  the  shore  and  scattered  about  the  place  in  search  of  a 
good  breakfast,  and  such  other  comforts  as  the  town 
afforded.  We  were  warned  not  to  be  gone  long,  as  the 
boat  would  wait  only  long  enough  to  discharge  Rock- 
welFs  battery  and  then  return.  We  were  back  in  an  hour 
or  so  and  found  the  vessel  ready  to  start ;  after  waiting 
a  few  minutes  for  the  stragglers,  the  lines  were  cast  off 
and  we  steamed  down  to  Hilton  Head,  reaching  there 
about  nine  o'clock.  The  two  companies  of  Roundheads 
were  landed,  but  definite  orders  had  not  been  received  as 


1TO  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

to  the  disposition  of  the  Highlanders.  We  hoped  that 
St.  Helena  might  be  selected,  or  Lady  Island,  for  we  had 
no  desire  to  camp  on  Hilton  Head. 

While  lying  here  at  the  dock,  we  had  our  first  glimpse 
of  colored  troops.  Before  leaving  Beaufort  in  June,  we 
heard  that  General  Hunter  was  organizing  such  a  regi 
ment,  and  several  of  our  non-commissioned  officers  had 
been  offered  commissions  in  the  new  organization,  but 
the  honor  had  been  declined.  Candor  compels  us  to  place 
on  record  the  fact,  that  at  this  time  the  Highlanders, 
with  possibly  a  few  exceptions,  were  bitterly  opposed  to 
raising  the  negro  to  the  military  level  of  the  Union 
soldiers.  When  we  saw  the  negroes,  uniformed  and 
equipped  like  ourselves — except  that  their  clothing  and 
accoutrements  were  new  and  clean,  while  ours  were 
almost  worn  out  in  active  service — parading  up  and  down 
the  wharf,  doing  guard  duty,  it  was  more  than  some  of 
our  hot-headed  pro-slavery  comrades  could  witness  in 
silence.  For  a  while  the  air  was  filled  with  the  vile  epi 
thets  hurled  at  the  poor  darkies,  and  overt  acts  against 
their  persons  were  only  prevented  by  the  interference  of 
our  officers.  It  is  pleasant  to  record,  however,  that  very 
few  of  the  regiment  thus  disgraced  themselves,  and  in  a 
short  time  after,  when  the  colored  troops  became  a  part 
of  the  Union  army  in  the  field,  they  were  welcomed  by 
us  all  as  brothers  in  arms. 

After  remaining  on  board  till  three  P.  M. ,  we  were  ordered 
on  shore  ;  we  marched  a  a  short  distance  from  the  dock, 
where  we  stacked  arms  and  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  schooner,  with  our  tents 
and  baggage,  was  brought  to  the  dock  and  unloaded  ;  the 
tents  were  soon  pitched  and  camp  established.  The  finest 
crop  of  grass  that  we  had  seen  since  landing  in  South 
Carolina,  was  growing  right  under  our  feet,  and  we  con 
sidered  the  camp  one  of  the  best  we  had  ever  occupied. 
The  men  began  at  once  to  dig  wells,  one  for  each  com- 


i862.  SMITH'S  PLANTATION.  1Y1 

pany,  and  a  fair  supply  of  water  was  obtained.  Regi 
ments  were  constantly  arriving,  and  soon  our  entire 
James  Island  force,  except  those  sent  to  Beaufort,  was 
quartered  here.  When  the  Eighth  Michigan  arrived  in 
the  afternoon,  the  Highlanders  met  them,  as  they 
stacked  arms,  with  hot  coffee.  This  had  become  an  old 
trick  between  these  very  friendly  organizations,  and  the 
exchange  of  civilities  tended  to  fasten  still  more  strongly 
the  bonds  of  sympathy  that  united  us. 

On  Wednesday,  the  9th,  General  Hunter  ordered  a 
review  to  take  place  at  five  P.  M.  ;  the  entire  force  had 
been  ordered  to  parade  and  a  grand  time  was  expected. 
We  at  once  set  about  putting  our  clothing,  arms  and 
accoutrements  in  proper  order,  and  our  preparations  were 
almost  completed  when  orders  came  countermanding  the 
review,  and  directing  us  to  "pack  knapsacks,  strike  tents, 
and  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice  ! "  While  we 
wondered  a  little  at  such  a  change  in  orders,  just  as  we 
had  gotten  our  camp  ground  in  good  trim,  and  hoped  for 
a  week  or  two's  rest  after  our  late  arduous  campaign,  we 
proceeded  to  obey  the  last  order,  grumbling  a  little,  as  was 
the  invariable  custom  whenever  orders  did  not  please  us. 

By  five  o'clock  our  tents  were  at  the  dock,  and  the  men 
busy  loading  them  and  the  quartermaster's  stores  on  the 
steamer  Cosmopolitan.  At  nine  o'clock  the  regiment 
marched  to  the  wharf,  but  owing  to  some  delay  the  load 
ing  had  not  been  completed  and  we  were  obliged  to  spend 
the  night  on  the  dock,  those  not  employed  in  fatigue  duty 
managing  to  get  a  little  sleep.  By  daylight  of  the  10th 
we  were  all  on  board  and  at  nine  o'clock  started  towards 
Beaufort,  reaching  there  at  eleven.  Before  the  boat 
touched  the  dock,  however,  an  officer  came  on  board  with 
orders  for  us  to  land  at  Smith's  plantation,  some  four 
miles  below  ;  so  we  turned  about  and  reached  that  place 
at  about  one  P.  M.  There  being  no  dock  here,  the  land 
ing  of  heavy  baggage  in  small  boats  was  a  rather  labori- 


172  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

ous  affair.  The  Roundheads  had  preceded  us  the  day 
before,  and  it  was  "  reported"  that  the  whole  of  Stevens' 
division  was  to  camp  at  that  place.  Our  tents  were  up 
before  dark ;  we  managed  to  get  a  cup  of  coffee  and  a 
cracker,  and  then  lay  down  to  rest  our  weary  limbs. 
Before  our  tents  had  been  up  two  hours,  and  while  the 
detail  were  still  engaged  in  unloading  the  quartermaster's 
stores,  orders  were  received  directing  us  to  prepare  for  a 
return  to  Virginia  !  Whew  !  how  the  boys  did  talk  !  It 
did  seem  as  though  the  "Powers"  had  been  exerted  to 
keep  us — like  poor  "  Joe" — moving  on.  There  seemed 
to  be  no  rest  for  the  soles  of  our  feet. 

The  stores  already  landed  were  returned  to  the  vessel ; 
our  knapsacks  were  packed,  and  then  we  threw  ourselves 
down  again  and  lay  till  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  llth.  After  getting  a  cup  of  coffee  we  struck  tents 
and  soon  had  them  on  board.  During  the  night  the  cooks 
had  prepared  three  days'  rations  of  "  pickled  mahogany  " 
—by  courtesy  called  mess  beef — and  by  110011  we  steamed 
away  for  Hilton  Head,  arriving  there  at  two  P.  M.  There 
we  found  the  steamer  Mississippi  waiting,  the  Twenty- 
Eighth  Massachusetts  already  on  board.  Before  trans 
ferring  our  tents  to  the  ocean  steamer,  a  board  of  survey 
kindly  relieved  us  of  the  greater  portion,  which,  by  rea 
son  of  long  use,  had  become  unserviceable  ;  many  of  them 
had  been  received  at  Camp  Lochiel.  No  unnecessary 
baggage  was  allowed  on  board  and  we  were  in  very  light 
marching  order.  A  violent  thunder  storm  broke  over  us 
about  dark,  and  as  most  of  our  stores  and  baggage  was 
on  the  dock  awaiting  transfer,  they  received  a  thorough 
drenching  ;  much  new  clothing  was  damaged,  but  the 
men  worked  with  a  will,  and  by  nine  o'clock  everything 
was  on  board.  As  the  vessel  still  lay  at  the  dock  on  the 
morning  of  the  12th,  many  of  us  went  on  shore  to  find 
something  more  palatable  for  breakfast  than  salt  junk  and 
hard-tack  ;  we  discovered  that  in  the  two  or  three  "res- 


1862.  CONDENSED  WATER.  173 

taurants  "  located  here,  the  two  extremes — poor  fare  and 
high  prices — met.  It  was  like  dining  at  a  fourth-rate 
Bowery  boarding  house,  and  then  paying  Delmonico 
prices  for  the  privilege.  Just  before  leaving  we  received 
two  days'  rations  of  soft  bread  ;  this  was  an  agreeable 
surprise  and  was  the  first  we  had  tasted  in  six  weeks  ;  it 
touched  the  right  spot. 

At  half -past  four  in  the  afternoon  the  Mississippi  got 
under  way  ;  the  weather  was  fine  and  the  sunset  a  perfect 
picture  ;  the  evening  was  beautiful  and  clear,  and  the 
deck  of  the  vessel  was  crowded  with  men  who  preferred 
rolling  themselves  in  their  blankets  and  spending  the 
night  there  in  preference  to  going  'tween  decks.  By 
midnight  we  were  well  on  our  way  northward. 

At  daylight  on  Sunday,  the  13th,  we  found  ourselves 
out  at  sea,  but  the  weather  was  so  pleasant  and  the 
ocean  so  calm  that  there  was  little  or  no  sickness.  The 
paymaster  embraced  the  opportunity  of  dispensing  two 
months'  pay  to  the  men,  which  event  added  much  to  the 
delight  fulness  of  the  journey.  Many  of  us  saw  on  this 
day,  for  the  first  time,  schools  of  the  so-called  flying-fish. 
As  they  darted  out  of  the  water  to  escape  the  hungry  jaws 
of  their  pursuers,  they  appeared  indeed  like  flocks  of 
birds. 

The  11-th  was  as  clear  and  beautiful  as  its  predecessor. 
The  Capes  were  passed  and  at  dark  we  cast  anchor  off 
Cape  Henry,  the  sailing  master  not  deeming  it  prudent 
to  enter  Hampton  Roads  till  daylight.  On  Tuesday 
morning  we  got  under  way  again  and  at  half-past  seven 
were  riding  safely  at  anchor  within  pistol-shot  of  Fort 
Monroe. 

While  on  board  we  were  obliged  to  drink  i '  condensed  " 
water  ;  or,  more  properly,  condensed  steam  made  from 
salt  water.  At  the  best  this  was  very  unpalatable,  but 
when  stored  in  casks  until  it  assumed  a  yellowish  roily 
hue,  and  at  a  temperature  almost  lake-warm,  it  was  pos- 


174  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

itively  nauseous  ;  particularly  so  to  those  of  us  suffering 
from  chills  and  fever  contracted  among  the  swamps  of 
James  Island.  Many  were  the  schemes  employed  to 
obtain  ice- water,  which  we  saw  carried  down  in  buckets- 
full  to  the  fire  room  for  the  use  of  the  stokers.  One  poor 
fellow,  after  vainly  endeavoring  to  work  on  the  sympa 
thies  of  a  stalwart  fireman  for  a  cup-fall  of  cold  water 
with  which  to  allay  his  burning  thirst,  thought  he  would 
try  the  key  which  unlocks  nearly  all  doors.  Placing  a 
dollar  bill  and  his  canteen  in  the  fellow's  hands  he  begged 
him,  "for  God's  sake,"  to  fill  it,  as  he  was  burning  with 
fever  and  should  die  if  he  did  n't  get  a  drink  of  cold  water. 
The  water  was  soon  brought  and  our  poor  comrade  threw 
himself  down  in  a  corner  and  in  a  few  minutes  had  drank 
every  drop. 

We  found  the  roadstead  filled  with  vessels  of  every 
description,  and  others  still  arriving.  At  five  P.  M.  the 
Vanderbilt,  with  General  Stevens  and  staff,  came  into 
port,  and  as  the  General  passed  our  vessel  in  a  small 
boat,  going  ashore,  he  was  loudly  cheered  by  all  on  board. 
We  expected  to  sail  up  the  James  River  and  reinforce 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  we  learned  had  fallen 
back  to  Harrison's  Landing  for  a  new  base  of  operations  ; 
but  the  powers  had  otherwise  ordered.  On  the  morning 
of  Wednesday,  the  16th,  we  sailed  up  to  Newport  News, 
some  five  or  six  miles  from  Fort  Monroe,  reaching  there 
at  ten  o'clock.  On  our  way  up  we  passed  the  wrecks  of 
the  frigates  Congress  and  Cumberland,  sunk  by  the  Con 
federate  Earn,  Merrimac.  We  also  saw  the  "  Cheese  Box 
on  a  Raft,"  the  now  famous  Monitor,  which  had  driven 
off  the  Merrimac.  By  noon  the  Highlanders  were  on 
solid  earth  again,  and  the  men  scattered  over  the 
ground  in  search  of  clear,  cool,  sparkling  water — some 
thing  we  had  not  tasted  for  months.  How  good  the 
spring  water  did  taste  !  A  few  men  who  were  on  the 
sick-list,  suffering  from  chills  and  fever,  returned  to 


1 862.  STORMED  FURIOUSLY.  175 

the  vessel  for  the  night.  Fortunate  for  them  they  did  so, 
for  a  violent  rain  set  in  about  dark,  and  it  stormed  furi 
ously  all  night. 


176  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 


CHAPTEE   XII. 

POPE'S  CAMPAIGN— THE  RAPPAHANNOCK  MARCH. 

FORMATION  of  the  Ninth  Corps. — General  Burnside. — "  Great  God  !  What  Pri 
mary  School 's  Broke  Loose  Now?" — Hawkins'  Zouaves  get  Highlanders  into 
Trouble. — Military  Discipline. — Fredericksburgh. — "A  True  Southerner." — 
How  Confederate  Scrip  Was  Made. — Shelter  Tents. — Benjamin's  Battery. — 
The  Situation.  —  Rappahannock  ^Station. — Culpeper. — Cedar  Mountain.— 
Muster-out  of  Band. — Beginning  of  the  Retreat. — Engagement  at  Kelly's 
Ford. — A  Kitchen  "  Busted." — Rappahannock  Station  Again. — White  Sulphur 
Springs. — Jackson  Leaves  Our  Front. — Warrenton. — Living  on  the  Country. — 
Manassas  Junction. — Jackson  Again.— Cross  Bull  Run  at  Blackburn's  Ford. 

T  T  was  now  that  the  Ninth  Corps  was  organized.  Be 
sides  Stevens'  division  from  South  Carolina,  General 
Ambrose  E.  Burnside,  with  the  bulk  of  his  command 
from  North  Carolina,  had  also  arrived  ;  and  of  these 
troops  the  corps  was  formed,  General  Burnside,  as  the 
ranking  officer,  being  placed  in  command.  The  High 
landers  were  well  pleased  to  serve  under  so  distinguished 
a  leader.  The  corps  consisted  of  three  divisions,  com 
manded  by  Brigadier- Generals  Stevens,  Jesse  L.  Keno 
and  John  G.  Parke,  respectively,  and  numbered  nearly 
thirteen  thousand  men. 

On  the  17th  new^  tents,  of  the  "Sibley"  pattern, 
designed  to  hold  sixteen  men  each,  were  issued,  and  when 
these  were  pitched,  the  camp  presented  a  very  picturesque 
appearance.  The  18th  and  19th  proved  rainy,  and  but 
little  out-door  work,  save  the  necessary  guard  duty,  was 
performed.  On  Sunday,  the  20th,  the  weather  was  favor 
able,  and  the  usual  inspection  took  place  in  the  forenoon, 
and  dress  parade  in  the  evening. 


1862.  PRIMARY  SCHOOL.  .  177 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Zouave  uniform  had  a 
peculiar  fascination  for  many  of  our  young  soldiers  ; 
consequently,  the  average  age  of  members  of  such  regi 
ments  was  much  below  that  of  other  organizations. 
When  Hawkins'  Zouaves  landed  here,  old  General  Mans 
field  happened  to  be  standing  near  by,  and  as  the  small 
boats  approached  the  shore  the  "Zoo-Zoos"  jumped  into 
the  water  waist  deep,  and  with  a  great  deal  of  boy -like 
play  gained  the  dry  land.  Looking  at  them  for  a  few 
moments,  the  General,  in  that  peculiar  voice  of  his, 
exclaimed  :  "  Great  God  !  What  Primary  School'  s  broke 
loose  now  ? "  But  this  "  Primary  School "  proved  them 
selves  gallant  men  on  many  a  hard-fought  field,  and  at 
Antietam  and  elsewhere,  covered  themselves  with  glory. 

The  rules  established  for  the  government  of  the  camp 
were  very  strict,  only  two  men  from  each  company  being 
allowed  passes  during  the  day.  The  Highlanders  never 
liked  such  restrictions,  and  were  it  not  for  the  few  who 
occasionally  abused  their  privileges,  doubtless  none  such 
would  have  been  imposed.  An  incident  occurred  here, 
characteristic  of  our  commanding  officer,  Colonel  Farns- 
worth,  and  is  thus  described  by  the  Lieutenant  who  was 
officer  of  the  guard  at  the  time  :  "  One  afternoon  a  num 
ber  of  men,  in  the  brilliant  uniform  of  Hawkins'  Zouaves, 
were  observed  in  camp.  As  both  regiments  were  from  New 
York  City,  many  mutual  friends  were  found  in  the  organi 
zations,  and  it  was  not  strange  that  we  were  anxious  to 
see  and  talk  with  each  other,  and  swap  news  from  home 
over  the  canteen  and  camp  fire.  Orders  were  strict  against 
our  leaving  camp,  and  corresponding  orders  had  been 
issued  against  any  one  being  admitted.  When  the  Colonel 
saw  the  Zouaves  he  was  furious  and  sent  for  the  officer  of 
the  guard,  who  on  his  presenting  himself  before  the  august 
presence,  was  taken  sharply  to  task  by  the  infuriated 
Colonel,  who  rubbed  his  left  arm  vigorously  when  any 
thing  disturbed  his  equanimity.  The  young  officer 


178  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

explained  that  he  had  also  observed  the  Zouaves,  and 
had  already  repeated  the  orders  to  the  guards  against 
the  admission  of  visitors.  But  the  'Red-legged  devils' 
seemed  to  increase  in  numbers  ;  although,  on  being  ques 
tioned,  the  guards  declared  they  had  not  seen  one  of 
them  enter  I  None  so  blind  as  those  who  do  not  wish  to 
see,  and  the  Highlanders  did  n't  want  to  see  on  this 
occasion,  and  therefore  turned  their  backs  while  the  boys 
in  skull  caps  and  blue  jackets  entered  the  camp. 

' k  The  officer  of  the  guard  was  again  sent  for  by  the 
Colonel,  who  was  now  i hopping  mad,'  and  acted  as 
though  he  wanted  everybody  to  be  afraid  of  him.  He 
tore  about  and  used  language  more  forcible  than  polite, 
much  to  the  disgust  of  his  subordinate,  whom  he  appeared 
disposed  to  blame  for  the  infraction  of  the  rules,  but  who 
coolly  informed  him  that  he  had  communicated  his  orders 
to  the  guards,  but  found  it  impossible  to  be  with  each 
individual  sentry  at  one  and  the  same  time.  The  Colonel 
then  directed  that  the  guard  be  all  tied  up  by  the  thumbs, 
and  a  new  detail  called  out ;  which  order  was  duly  exe 
cuted,  care  being  taken  that  the  tying  was  done  in  such 
a  manner  as  not  to  inflict  pain  upon  the  men.  The  new 
guard  received  strict  orders  not  to  admit  any  one,  but  the 
number  of  Zouaves  appeared  to  increase  !"  Why  the 
Colonel  should  object  to  friends  meeting  who  had  not 
seen  each  other  for  over  a  year,  was  past  finding  out.  0 
Military  Discipline  !  what  blunders  are  committed  in  thy 
name  ! 

Some  kind  friends  in  New  York  had  sent  us  a  fine  gar 
rison  flag,  thirty  feet  long  ;  and  as  there  was  no  pole  on 
the  parade  ground  on  which  to  display  it,  Captain  More 
took  a  detail  of  men  and  went  to  Little  Bethel,  bringing 
back  the  one  on  which  the  rebel  flag  had  floated  during 
the  occupancy  of  that  place  by  the  enemy  under  General 
Macgruder.  Until  the  Highlanders  left  Newport  News 
the  time  was  fully  occupied  with  the  duties  of  the  camp  ; 


1 862.  KNAPSACKS  FOR  PILLOWS.  179 

company  drill  every  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  bat 
talion  drill  and  dress  parade  made  up  the  routine. 

When  it  was  decided  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
should  leave  the  James  Eiver  and  proceed  to  reinforce 
General  Pope,  the  Ninth  Corps  was  ordered  to  Fredericks- 
burgh,  and  at  three  p.  M.  on  August  3rd  the  Highlanders 
with  the  Hundredth  Pennsylvania  (Roundheads)  and  two 
companies  of  the  Forty-Sixth  New  York,  embarked  on 
the  steamer  Atlantic.  Our  baggage  was  not  put  on  board 
till  near  noon  of  the  following  day,  when  we  sailed  down 
to  Fort  Monroe  where  we  lay  till  four  p.  M.  ;  then  our 
voyage  was  resumed  up  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Poto 
mac  River,  reaching  Acquia  Creek  about  nine  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  the  Fifth.  The  day  was  consumed  in 
getting  our  baggage  off  the  vessel,  and  near  midnight  we 
left  on  the  cars,  reaching  Falmouth,  on  the  Rappahannock 
River,  in  an  hour  or  so,  where  we  bivouacked  for  the 
remainder  of  the  night.  The  weather  was  pleasant,  and 
rolling  ourselves  in  our  blankets,  with  our  knapsacks  for 
pillows,  and  the  blue  canopy  of  heaven  studded  with  stars 
above  us,  we  slept  soundly  till  daylight. 

We  found  that  nearly  the  whole  corps  had  preceded  us 
and  the  various  regiments  lay  scattered  about  the  place. 
Fredericksburgh  lay  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river  a 
short  distance  below.  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  we 
marched  into  and  through  the  city.  The  bridge,  a  very 
lofty  structure,  had  been  destroyed  some  time  before,  and 
the  temporary  one  erected  was  a  rather  shaky-looking 
affair,  and  required  no  little  nerve  on  our  part  to  cross. 
We  made  our  way  through  the  city  and  up  to  Marye's 
Heights,  which  was  fixed  upon  for  our  camp  ground.  Our 
tents  were  not  pitched  till  the  Uth  and  after  getting  things 
to  rights,  we  took  an  opportunity  to  look  about  us.  Our 
position  commanded  a  fine  view  of  the  city  and  the 
heights  of  Falmouth  beyond  the  river.  A  strong  guard 
completely  encircling  the  city  was  maintained,  in  order 


180  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

to  keep  the  inhabitants,  who  were  all  thoroughly  in  sym 
pathy  with  the  enemy,  from  communicating  with  their 
friends  and  giving  them  information  respecting  our  move 
ments.  We  found  very  few  young  men  about  the  city, 
nearly  all  having  joined  the  rebel  army  ;  old  men,  women 
and  children  were  all  that  could  be  seen  on  the  streets. 
How  they  managed  to  live  under  the  enormous  prices 
charged  for  provisions  was  a  mystery  to  us.  Many  stores 
were  open,  but  merchandise  was  scarce  and  consequently 
very  little  business  was  done.  Mechanics  from  the  North, 
under  the  direction  of  government  officers,  were  working 
in  the  machine  shops,  repairing  engines  and  cars  ;  other 
wise  the  place  was  dead. 

We  had  not  been  in  camp  long  before  the  boys  began 
exploring  the  city,  and  one  afternoon  two  or  three  of 
them  returned  to  camp  with  the  important  information 
that  they  had  found  some  whiskey,  but  that  the  owner 
being  a  "  True  Southerner,"  would  accept  of  nothing  but 
Confederate  scrip  in  payment  for  his  goods.  Greenbacks 
had  been  tendered  but  refused — what  were  they  to  do  ? 
There  was  the  whiskey — only  five  dollars  a  gallon — and 
nothing  between  it  and  their  parched  throats  but  Confed 
erate  scrip,  which  they  could  not  obtain.  It  was  sug 
gested  that  a  ''raid  "  be  made  on  the  stock  and  the  stuff 
seized  as  contrabraiid  of  war  ;  but  that  would  let  too 
many  into  the  secret,  and  there  might  not  be  enough  of 
the  liquid  to  go  around.  In  this  dilemma  a  happy  thought 
struck  one  of  our  number.  He  had  been  reading,  a  short 
time  before,  an  article  in  Harper's  Monthly,  descriptive  of 
Continental  currency,  and  remembering  that  it  contained 
fac-similes  of  the  various  denominations  of  bills,  the 
thought  occurred  that  a  rebel  shin-plaster  might  be  made 
from  one  of  them. 

The  magazine  was  found  and  fortunately  contained  the 
counterfeit  presentment  of  a  five-dollar  note.  This  was 
carefully  cut  out  and  by  the  aid  of  a  little  dirty  water 


1 862.  CONFEDERATE  MONEY.  181 

and  manipulating  between  the  thumb  and  finger,  care 
being  taken  to  preserve  the  figure  5  and  letter  V  in  the 
corners,  and  then  rubbing  in  a  little  more  dirty  water  on 
the  back  to  hide  the  letter  press,  the  "  note  "  was  as  limp 
and  ragged  as  any  genuine  rebel  could  desire.  Armed 
with  this  and  half  a  dozen  canteens  concealed  in  their  hav 
ersacks,  our  brave  comrades  once  more  approached  the 
66  True  Southerner,"  and  explained  that  by  dint  of  a  good 
deal  of  running  about  they  had  at  last  found  a  man  less 
patriotic  than  himself  who  had  exchanged  their  green 
backs  for  Confederate  money,  and  would  n't  he  k '  please 
hurry  up  and  fill  the  canteens,"  so  that  they  might 
"get  back  to  camp  before  roll-call."  The  spokesman 
held  the  "bill"  in  his  hand  in  a  careless  sort  of  a  way, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  canteens  were  filled  and  safely 
stowed  away.  Handing  over  the  "money,"  which  was 
accepted  without  any  very  close  scrutiny,  the  boys  lost 
no  time  in  returning  to  camp,  and  it  will  be  remembered 
by  the  survivors,  that  they  were  there  in  good  season  for 
roll-call. 

On  the  12th,  we  received  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at 
six  o'clock  on  the  following  morning.  During  the  day 
there  was  issued  to  each  man  two  pieces  of  twilled  cotton 
cloth  about  four  feet  square,  When  these  were  buttoned 
together  they  formed  what  was  termed  a  "shelter" 
tent,  but  that  was  a  misnomer,  and  the  boys  thought  it 
must  have  been  adopted  because  of  the  very  imperfect 
shelter  they  aif orded,  except  in  dry  and  pleasant  weather. 
As  two  comrades  generally  slept  together  the  other  two 
pieces  formed  the  ends  to  the  shelter,  and  when  these  end 
pieces  were  sloped  out  sufficiently,  it  was  possible  for  a 
medium-sized  man  to  crawl  in  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
and  by  lying  in  the  center,  shelter  himself  from  a  light 
dew  ;  but  when  two  were  obliged  to  squeeze  into  this 
queer  sort  of  a  "dog  house  " — as  we  dubbed  them — some 
body's  feet  generally  protruded.  When  it  rained  the 


182  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

water  trickled  through  the  ridge  where  the  pieces  were 
joined,  the  rain  also  finding  its  way  through  the  thin 
material  and  falling  in  a  fine  spray  upon  our  blankets. 
But  carrying  our  own  tents  relieved  the  baggage  trains 
of  a  large  part  of  their  load,  and  the  number  of  wagons 
was  correspondingly  reduced.  The  men  recognized  the 
necessity  of  this,  and  after  a  little,  became  quite  recon 
ciled  to  the  change.  We  knew  that  our  shelters  were 
much  better  than  those  possessed  by  the  enemy.  We  had 
passed  by  many  a  deserted  carnp,  where  no  signs  of  tents 
had  appeared  ;  merely  the  remains  of  rude  bush  huts,  and 
surely  we  could  undergo  as  much  hardship  as  they. 

Leaving  our  knapsacks  behind — which,  by  the  way,  we 
never  saw  again — the  First  and  Second  divisions  left  Fred- 
ericksburgh  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  under  the  com 
mand  of  General  Eeno  ;  General  0.  B.  Willcox,  who  had 
assumed  command  of  the  Third,  remaining  with  Burnside, 
in  order  to  hold  the  city.  Our  brigade  was  a  small  one,  con  - 
sisting  of  the  Twenty-Eighth  Massachusetts  and  our  own 
regiment,  and  was  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Farns- 
worth.  We  knew  little  of  General  Pope,  save  that  he 
had  a  good  record  in  the  West,  and  we  were  too  old  in 
the  service  to  speculate  much  about  the  probable  results 
of  the  campaign.  We  had  more  confidence  in  our  own 
Stevens  and  the  men  of  our  two  divisions,  than  in  the  com 
mander  of  the  Army  of  Virginia,  and  felt  quite  secure  in 
being  able  to  look  out  for  ourselves  when  the  time  for 
action  should  arrive. 

We  were  joined  at  this  time  by  Battery  E,  Second  U.  S. 
Artillery,  of  twenty-pounder  Parrott  guns,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  S.  N.  Benjamin,  a  skillful  officer  and 
perfect  gentleman,  between  whom  and  the  Highlanders  a 
mutual  admiration  soon  sprang  up.  We  recalled  the  fact 
that  this  battery  had  been  attached  to  our  brigade  during 
the  First  Bull  Bun  campaign.  Whenever  the  battery 
was  short-handed,  it  was  to  us  that  Lieutenant  Benjamin 


1 862. 


BENJAMIN'S  BATTERY. 


came  for  help,  and  the  boys  always  considered  it  an  honor 
to  serve  under  his  orders.  It  was  sometimes  hard  to  tell 
which  we  thought  the  more  of — Benjamin's  Battery  or 
the  Eighth  Michigan. 


Woodbury,  in  his  History  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  says  : 
"The  month  of  August  was  the  gloomiest  month  of  the 
gloomy  summer  of  1862.  The  campaigns  that  had  been 
so  brilliantly  commenced  by  Grant  and  Foote  in  the 
West,  Burnside  and  Goldsborough  in  the  East,  and  But 
ler  and  Farragut  in  the  South,  seemed  in  danger  of  end- 


184  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

ing  in  disaster  and  defeat.  The  interest  of  the  country 
centered  upon  the  movements  that  were  making  in  Vir 
ginia.  General  Lee,  released  from  the  necessity  of  defend 
ing  Richmond,  was  hurling  his  entire  army  upon  General 
Pope,  who  with  forty  thousand  men  was  endeavoring  to 
hold  the  line  of  the  Eappahannock.  *  *  *  Perhaps 
there  has  not  been,  in  the  history  of  the  war,  such  con 
fused,  and,  at  the  same  time,  such  sanguinary  fighting 
as  marked  the  retreat  of  General  Pope  from  the  Rapi- 
dan  to  the  defences  of  Washington.  On  the  part  of  the 
enemy,  General  Jackson  seemed  ubiquitous,  and  harassed 
our  troops  almost  beyond  measure.  On  our  own  side,  some 
of  the  officers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  somewhat  sore 
from  their  failure  on  the  Peninsula  and  in  a  measure 
dispirited,  appeared  to  be  content  with  doggedly  prevent 
ing  an  utter  defeat,  without  any  desire  to  achieve  a  vic 
tory." 

Our  duty  now  was  to  guard  the  left  flank  of  Pope's 
army.  Our  course  lay  up  the  north  bank  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock,  and  Haytown  was  reached  at  noon,  where 
we  halted  for  dinner,  after  which  the  march  was  contin 
ued  until  late  at  night.  On  the  14th,  we  resumed  our 
march  early  in  the  day,  and  towards  evening  reached 
Rappahannock  Station,  where  we  camped  for  the  night. 
The  next  day,  after  a  wearisome  march  over  muddy 
roads,  we  passed  through  Culpeper,  a  little  before  three 
in  the  afternoon.  An  occasional  rain  storm  did  not  at  all 
add  to  our  comfort  or  happiness.  The  streams  were  swol 
len  and  difficult  to  cross,  and  the  roads  were  blocked  with 
artillery  and  baggage -wagons,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to 
squeeze  our  way  through  between  the  obstructions  and 
by  the  road  sides.  Although  in  light  marching  order,  we 
found  the  march  a  very  heavy  one.  We  bivouacked  just 
a  little  to  the  east  of  Culpeper. 

At  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  a  dress  (!) 
parade  was  ordered,  and  at  ten  we  resumed  our  march  in 


1 862.  LEE'S  ARMY.  185 

a  southwesterly  direction,  and  about  noon  halted  near 
Cedar,  or  Slaughter  Mountain,  the  battle-ground  of  the 
9th,  and  where,  we  had  been  led  to  believe,  General  Banks 
had  gained  a  famous  victory  over  Stonewall  Jackson.  We 
soon  learned  that  somebody  did  gain  a  victory  there,  but 
it  was  not  General  Banks. 

On  Sunday,  the  17th,  we  went  through  the  form  of 
inspection,  but  there  was  little  for  the  inspecting  officer 
to  do,  save  to  examine  our  weather-stained  muskets  ; 
these  we  managed  to  keep  in  working  order.  On  Mon 
day,  thp  18th,  a  general  muster  of  the  whole  army  was 
made,  by  special  orders  from  the  War  Department.  In 
order  to  cut  down  expenses,  perhaps,  the  government 
had  decided  to  withdraw  all  pay  and  rations  from  bands 
which  accompanied  volunteer  regiments  ;  and  with  deep 
regret  we  saw  Robertson  and  his  men  depart  for  home. 
Our  band  had  been  our  pride  ;  none  in  the  field  could 
equal  it,  and  its  members,  who  were  all  professional 
musicians,  were  being  constantly  called  on  to  instruct 
and  drill  the  "country"  bands  who  accompanied  new 
regiments  into  the  field.  Our  officers  had  heretofore 
generously  subscribed  a  part  of  their  hard-earned  pay, 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  band  in  the  field  ;  but 
now  that  government  support  was  wholly  withdrawn, 
we  were  obliged  to  part  with  them. 

Up  to  this  time  Lee's  army  had  been  acting  on  the 
defensive,  operating  and  manoeuvring  south  of  the  Rapi- 
dan  ;  but  now  that  his  forces  were  well  in  hand,  he 
assumed  the  offensive,  and  began  the  movements  which 
necessitated  Pope's  retreat  to  the  north  bank  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock.  Late  on  the  afternoon  of  the  18th  it  was 
discovered  that  large  bodies  of  the  enemy  were  massing 
opposite  Raccoon  Ford,  and  at  one  o'clock  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  19th  our  retrograde  movement  began.  We 
marched  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  and  by  daylight 
had  reached  Stevensburgh,  a  distance  of  about  seven 


186  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

miles.  Halting  only  long  enough  to  boil  a  cup  of  coffee, 
the  march  was  resumed,  and  Barnett's  Ford,  on  the  Kap- 
pahannock,  reached  early  in  the  evening.  Crossing  the 
river  we  halted  for  supper,  and  then  marching  a  couple 
of  miles  further  up  the  river,  rested  for  the  night  at  nine 
o'clock,  having  been  twenty  hours  on  the  road.  We  were 
thoroughly  tired  out,  and  Pope  received  many  a  ' i  bless 
ing.  "  At  this  time  we  knew  nothing  of  the  general  plans 
of  either  the  Union  or  Confederate  armies.  We  only 
knew  that  we  were  being  marched  and  countermarched 
till  we  were  "most  worried  to  death,"  as  some  of  our 
men  expressed  it.  We  began  to  think  that  either  Pope 
was  not  a  very  smart  general,  or  that  the  enemy  was 
particularly  active  and  managed  by  better  leaders  ;  and 
when,  after  a  hard  day's  march  in  one  direction,  we  were 
routed  out  at  night  to  march  part  of  the  way  back  again, 
the  men  thought  they  had  covered  sufficient  ground  for 
complaint. 

On  this  night  we  dropped  on  the  ground  wherever  we 
happened  to  stack  our  muskets— too  tired  to  put  up  our 
shelter  tents.  We  were  warned,  too,  to  be  ready  to  move 
at  a  moment's  notice,  as  the  enemy  was  close  at  hand. 
We  were  not  disturbed  during  the  night,  however  ;  but 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  our  cavalry  pickets  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river  were  driven  in,  and  the  brigade 
was  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  two  of  our  companies 
sent  down  to  the  ford  in  support  of  the  cavalry,  where  they 
remained  till  evening  and  then  returned.  Late  in  the 
evening  the  march  was  resumed,  and  when  Kelly's  Ford 
was  reached  we  halted  for  the  balance  of  the  night.  Just 
before  noon  on  the  21st,  the  brigade,  accompanied  by 
some  cavalry  and  artillery,  under  General  Stevens, 
crossed  to  the  south  side  of  the  river  to  make  a  reconnois- 
sance.  We  found  the  enemy's  skirmishers  a  short  dis 
tance  beyond,  strongly  posted  in  the  woods,  and  after 
some  lively  firing  drove  them  back  for  a  mile  or  so,  and 


1 862.  HALF-COOKED  BREAKFAST.  187 

at  dark  returned  to  our  bivouac  of  the  night  before. 
During  the  afternoon  we  could  hear  the  sound  of  heavy 
guns,  off  to  our  right,  and  it  seemed  evident  that  the 
enemy  was  pressing  our  army  to  a  general  engagement. 

We  remained  in  our  bivouac  on  the  22d,  and  as  we 
found  a  good  supply  of  hay  and  straw  in  the  fields  south 
of  the  river,  made  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  circum 
stances  would  permit.  A  heavy  rain  in  the  evening 
drenched  us  to  the  skin,,  but  when  it  ceased  we  built  fires 
and  soon  had  our  clothes  dry  again.  There  was  no  dis 
turbance  during  the  night,  and  at  daylight  of  the  23d  we 
were  up,  and  each  man  being  his  own  cook,  we  soon  had 
a  large  number  of  fires  started;  about  which  we  gathered 
to  prepare  our  breakfast.  A  few  of  us  were  round  a  fire 
larger  than  some  of  the  others,  and  about  a  dozen  cups 
and  palls,  with  one  or  two  frying  pans,  were  in  use. 
While  we  stood  or  sat  watching  the  cooking  process,  the 
enemy  must  have  been  watching  us  ;  for,  just  as  some  of 
our  cups  began  to  boil,  a  shell  came  screaming  through 
the  air  and  struck  the  ground  within  a  few  feet  of  our 
kitchen.  No  one  was  hurt ;  but  the  flying  dirt  and  sand 
upset  most  of  our  cups,  and  half  filled  the  others  with 
dirt  and  ashes.  At  the  same  moment  the  bugle  sounded 
the  assembly,  and  as  the  location  was  too  dangerous  for 
" coffee  coolers"  to  tarry  in,  we  were  obliged  to  snatch 
what  was  left  of  our  half-cooked  breakfast,  and  swallow 
it  while  marching. 

Our  route  led  us  along  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  which  the  enemy  could  be  plainly 
seen.  He  was  evidently  bent  on  effecting  a  crossing, 
which  our  troops  strenuously  opposed.  When  we  reached 
Rappahannock  Station,  having  made  the  complete  circuit 
since  the  14th,  we  saw  the  effects  of  the  cannonading 
heard  by  us  while  at  Kelly's  Ford.  Jackson's  command 
held  the  left  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  it  seemed  to  be  a 
race  between  him  and  Sigel,  who  commanded  our  right. 


188  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

These  two  had  fought  a  sharp  artillery  duel  from  opposite 
sides  of  the  river.  Dead  horses  lying  about,  and  here  and 
there  wounded  men  in  the  ambulances,  attested  the  sever 
ity  of  the  engagement.  As  we  approached  the  station, 
passing  along  the  road  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  his  fire 
increased.  Our  batteries  replied  vigorously,  and  for  an 
hour  or  more  the  shot  and  shell  flew  thick  and  fast. 
Another  heavy  shower  dampened  our  clothing,  and  also 
rendered  the  roads — bad  enough  before — almost  impassa 
ble.  But  the  halts  were  few  ;  we  pushed  on  rapidly,  and 
late  at  night  reached  a  point  near  White  Sulphur  Springs, 
on  the  extreme  north  fork  of  the  Rappahannock,  where 
we  bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  forced  marches  we 
had  made,  during  the  campaign  thus  far,  began  to  tell 
severely  on  the  men,  many  of  whom  were  still  suffering 
from  swamp  fever,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  exertion 
that  these  men  could  at  all  keep  up  with  the  column.  In. 
fact,  some  were  unable  to  do  so  and  were  captured. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  24th,  we  reached  the  Springs. 
Firing  along  the  line  of  the  river  was  very  heavy ;  and 
now,  that  we  had  reached  the  base  of  the  Bull  Run  range 
of  mountains,  we  knew  that  a  stand  must  be  made,  or 
our  retreat  continued  towards  Warrenton  or  Manassas. 
The  Highlanders  had  no  reason  to  feel  confident  of  a  vic 
tory  near  the  scene  of  our  first  Bull  Run,  especially  in  the 
light  of  our  recent  experience  ;  yet,  we  never  doubted  for 
a  moment  that  "  somehow  "  we  would  pull  through.  We 
knew  that  McClellairs  army  was  returning  from  the 
Peninsula  to  reinforce  us ;  and  this  offset  the  further 
knowledge  that  we  had  the  whole  Rebel  army  in  our 
front.  The  question  that  naturally  occurred  to  us  was  : 
Can  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  reach  us  before  Lee 
strikes  ?  It  was  easy  to  see  that  the  enemy  was  forcing 
matters  ;  but  our  route  of  march  was  bringing  us  closer 
to  our  expected  supports,  who  would  doubtless  march 
either  by  way  of  Fredericksburgh  or  Alexandria.  In  the 


1 862.  OUR  WEARY  WAY.  189 

afternoon  the  bridge  across  the  river  at  the  Springs  was 
destroyed,  and  the  Highlanders  were  thrown  forward  in 
advance,  and  a  strong  picket  line  established.  The  Sec 
ond  brigade  had  arrived  early  in  the  afternoon  ;  other 
troops  were  being  massed,  and  we  expected  a  battle  on 
the  following  morning.  When  the  morning  of  the  25th 
opened,  however,  there  was  110  enemy  to  be  seen  !  Where 
had  he  gone  ?  We  found  out  in  a  day  or  two. 

Our  march  was  now  directed  towards  Warrenton,  five 
miles  distant  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  and  now  that 
the  line  of  the  Rappahannock  had  been  abandoned,  we 
were  uncertain  as  to  where  we  would  next  meet  the 
enemy.  After  resting  an  hour  or  two  at  Warrenton,  the 
march  was  resumed,  not  along  the  Warrenton  pike,  but 
southeast,  in  the  direction  of  Warrenton  Junction.  Our 
route  followed  the  line  of  the  railroad,  and  at  night  we 
bivouacked  near  Eastern  View.  On  the  morning  of  the 
26th  we  continued  our  weary  way,  and  in  the  evening 
halted  at  the  Junction.  We  were  not  disturbed  during 
the  night  ;  in  fact  nothing  but  a  serious  attack  by  the 
enemy  could  have  disturbed  us.  The  men  were  so  tired 
and  worn  out,  that  as  soon  as  the  column  halted  we  threw 
ourselves  on  the  ground  and  were  soon  fast  asleep. 

During  the  rapid  marching  our  commissariat  had 
become  sadly  demoralized,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
privilege  we  had  of  subsisting  off  the  inhabitants,  we 
would  have  been  in  a  starving  condition.  Pope  believed 
in  compelling  the  country  through  which  we  passed  to 
contribute  to  our  support,  so  we  managed  to  subsist  with 
out  serious  trouble.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  some 
what  to  our  surprise,  three  days'  rations  were  issued  and 
our  march  was  resumed  ;  or  rather,  we  countermarched, 
nearly  to  the  point  where  we  had  bivouacked  the  night 
before.  Here  we  halted  for  hah0  an  hour,  and  then  by  a 
northeast  course,  arrived  at  the  town  of  Greenwich, 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  Warrenton  road,  where  we 


190  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

bivouacked  for  the  night.  On  the  morning  of  the  28th 
our  course  led  us  due  east  towards  Manassas  Junction, 
and  when  within  a  mile  of  that  place  we  halted  till  the 
other  regiments  of  the  division  closed  up  ;  then  a  skir 
mish  line  covering  the  brigade  front  was  deployed  from 
the  regiment,  our  artillery  was  placed  in  battery,  and  the 
advance  towards  the  Junction  was  made  as  cautiously  as 
though  the  enemy  was  in  our  front. 

Up  to  this  moment  we  were  not  aware  of  the  destruc 
tive  work  performed  by  Jackson  in  the  rear  of  our  army. 
When  we  heard  of  his  leaving  our  front  at  White  Sul 
phur  Springs,  we  never  dreamed  that  he  would  be  allowed 
to  get  in  our  rear  and  destroy  our  quartermaster  and 
commissary  stores.  It  appeared,  however,  that  after 
leaving  our  front  on  the  night  of  the  24th,  Jackson 
passed  rapidly  around  to  our  right,  and  by  forced  marches 
reached  Thoroughfare  Gap,  in  the  Bull  Run  range,  and 
on  the  evening  of  the  26th  our  scouts  reported  that  he 
had  passed  through,  and  was  then  directing  his  march 
against  our  supply  trains  at  Manassas  Junction  and  Bris- 
toe,  at  which  latter  point  he  arrived  with  25,000  men, 
late  in  the  evening,  and  at  once  dispatched  a  force  to 
destroy  the  stores  at  Manassas  Junction.  Jackson,  with 
the  main  body  of  his  troops,  left  Bristoe  on  the  morning 
of  the  27th,  leaving  E well's  division  as  a  rear  guard,  with 
orders  to  fall  back  to  Manassas  and  from  there  via 
Blackburn's  Ford  to  the  old  battlefield  of  Bull  Run,  in 
case  of  being  attacked  by  superior  numbers.  In.  the 
afternoon  Hooker  encountered  Ewell,  who,  after  a  slight 
show  of  resistance,  fell  back  towards  Manassas  as  directed. 
Meanwhile  Jackson  had  completed  his  work  of  destruc 
tion.  Old  "Blue  Light  "  had  played  with  Pope  and  won 
the  first  part  of  the  game,  and  while  we  were  approach 
ing  Manassas  Junction,  expecting  to  meet  Jackson — or  at 
least  Ewell — those  Generals  with  their  commands  were 
north  of  Groveton,  seven  miles  distant. 


1 862.  SMOULDERING  RUINS.  191 

Our  disgust  can  be  imagined,  when,  on  reaching  the 
railroad  station,  we  found  nothing  but  a  heap  of  smoul 
dering  ruins,  the  only  rebels  in  sight  being  a  few  dead 
ones,  killed  by  our  cavalry,  perhaps  after  the  main  body 
of  the  enemy  had  made  good  their  escape.  We  found 
only  one  car  intact,  and  that  was  loaded  with  ammuni 
tion,  the  enemy  no  doubt  being  careful  not  to  set  fire  to 
it  while  they  were  in  the  vicinity,  helping  themselves  to 
the  good  things,  and  in  their  hurry  of  leaving  had  for 
gotten  to  destroy  it.  After  removing  the  ammunition  to 
a  place  of  safety  away  from  the  burning  ruins,  we  contin 
ued  our  march  towards  Blackburn's  Ford.  During  the 
afternoon  a  heavy  rain,  storm  caused  a  halt,  after  which 
we  went  on  our  way  and  during  the  night  crossed  the 
ford  and  bivouacked  in  the  fields  between  the  stream  and 
Centre  ville. 


192  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  August, 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

POPE'S  CAMPAIGN     [CONTINUED.]     BATTLE  OF  SECOND  BULL  RUN. 

THE  SITUATION. — Jackson's  Raid. — Pope's  Attempts  to  Capture  Jackson. — 
Morning  of  the  29th. — Old  Landmarks. — <%  We  Fights  Mit  Sigel !  " — The 
Highlanders  Engage  the  Enemy. — Night  of  the  29th. — Absence  of  Ninth 
Corps  Reports. — Morning  of  the  3Oth. — Reno's  Command  and  Ricketts'  and 
Kearney's  Divisions  on  the  Right. — Highlanders  Feel  the  Enemy  and  Dis 
cover  his  Position. — Captain  More  Severely  Wounded. — Supporting  Batteries. 
— Colonel  Farnsworth  Wounded. — Union  Left  and  Left-Center  Turned. — 
The  Right  Ordered  to  Fall  Back.— Mad-Cap  Kearney. — Capture  of  Lieuten 
ant  Heffron. — Retreat  to  Centreville. — Lieutenant  Falconer's  Account. — 
Reno's  Old  Brigade  Defends  the  Henry  Hill. 

T  N  order  that  the  general  situation  at  this  time  may  be 
*  better  understood,  a  knowledge  of  the  following 
facts  is  essential  :  Jackson's  flank  movement  has 
already  been  mentioned  ;  dispatches  captured  by  General 
Stuart,  the  Confederate  cavalry  leader,  during  a  raid  at 
Bristoe  Station  on  the  24th,  no  doubt  informed  the 
enemy  of  the  large  amount  of  stores  at  Manassas  Junc 
tion,  and  the  temptation  to  capture  or  destroy  these,  was 
too  great  to  be  resisted.  Jackson's  advance  reached  the 
Junction  late  on  the  night  of  the  26th,  and  50,000  pounds 
of  bacon,  1,000  barrels  of  beef,  2,000  barrels  of  flour  and 
three  hundred  new  tents,  besides  a  large  lot  of  sutlers' 
stores,  were  destroyed,  after  the  enemy  had  helped  them 
selves  to  all  they  could  carry  away  with  them.  About 
300  horses  and  a  number  of  field  guns  were  also  included 
in  the  spoils.  As  soon  as  Pope  learned  of  this  fire  in  his 
rear,  which  was  not  till  Hooker  met  Ewell  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  27th,  he  was  obliged  to  change  front  to  meet 
the  foe  in  this  unexpected  quarter  ;  hence  our  hurried 


1 862. 


THE   SITUATION.  193 


marches  towards  the  Junction.  On  the  night  of  the  27th 
Jackson  withdrew  the  bulk  of  his  command  towards 
Grovetoii,  Swell's  division  marching  to  Blackhurn's  Ford, 
which  he  crossed  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  and  then 
marched  up  the  north  bank  of  the  stream  towards  the 
Warrenton  turnpike,  thence  across  the  Stone  Bridge  and 
joined  the  rest  of  Jackson's  command. 

Jackson,  in  his  report,  says:  "My  command  had 
hardly  concentrated  north  of  the  turnpike  before  the 
enemy's  advance  reached  the  vicinity  of  Grovetoii  from 
Warrenton."  This  was  King's  division  of  McDowell's 
corps  which  had  been  pushed  forward  to  cut  Jackson  off 
from  his  supposed  retreat  by  way  of  Thoroughfare  Gap. 
Meanwhile  Ricketts  with  his  division,  also  of  Mc 
Dowell's  corps  had  been  sent  forward  to  the  gap  to  inter 
cept  Longstreet,  who  was  following  after  Jackson. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  Jackson  held  the 
line  of  an  unfinished  railroad  running  from  Sudley 
Springs  towards  Gains ville.  His  nearest  support,  about 
eight  miles  away,  was  Longstreet's  command,  the  advance 
of  which  had  just  made  its  way  through  the  Gap. 
Ricketts  had  not  yet  withdrawn  from  Longstreet's  front ; 
King  was  holding  a  position  just  north  of  the  Warren 
ton  pike,  about  mid-way  between  Grovetoii  and  Gaiiis- 
ville,  and  confronted  Jackson's  right  wing ;  Sigel  with 
his  whole  corps  was  on  the  line  of  the  Sudley  Springs 
and  New  Market  road,  his  right  close  to  the  Warrenton 
pike  ;  Reynolds  with  his  division  was  just  south  of 
Groveton  ;  Kearney  had  crossed  Blackburn's  Ford  in 
pursuit  of  Ewell,  and  Reno's  command  was  following ; 
Hooker  was  in  our  rear  and  Fitz  John  Porter  was  at 
Bristoe  Station.  This  being  the  situation  late  in  the 
afternoon  and  early  in  the  evening  of  the  28th,  it  is  not 
strange  that  Pope,  as  his  orders  indicated,  expected  to 
overwhelm  Jackson  and  possibly  capture  a  large  part  of 
his  command. 

13 


194  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

So  many  critics  have  reviewed  this  campaign,  and  have 
pointed  out  just  how  we  might  have  achieved  success, 
that  the  writer  will  not  burden  these  pages  with  more 
than  a  recital  of  facts  ;  with  the  controversy  that  has  for 
years  been  carried  on  between  Generals  Pope  and  Fitz 
John  Porter,  respecting  the  latter's  alleged  flagrant  diso 
bedience  of  orders  on  the  battle  field,  we  have  nothing  to 
say.  Partizanship,  on  both  sides,  seems  to  have  entered 
so  largely  into  the  consideration  of  the  questions  and 
points  involved,  that  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  for  any 
one  to  form  an  intelligent  opinion,  as  to  whether,  as 
Pope  claims — Porter  was  responsible  for  the  loss  of  the 
battles  fought  on  the  29th  and  30th  ;  or,  according  to  the 
Military  Board  which  reviewed  his  case — Porter,  by  his 
technical  disobedience  of  orders,  was  the  means  of 
saving  Pope's  entire  army  from  destruction. 

The  morning  of  the  29th  found  the  Highlanders  be 
tween  Blackburn's  Ford  and  Centreville,  where  we  re 
mained  for  two  or  three  hours  ;  or,  until  the  sound  of 
heavy  guns  in  the  direction  of  the  position  occupied  by 
Jackson,  indicated  that  an  engagement  was  about  to  be 
fought.  When  the  command  to  march  was  given  we 
made  our  way  through  the  fields  towards  the  Warrenton 
pike,'  striking  the  road  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Stone 
Bridge.  It  was  a  little  before  noon  when  we  reached  the 
main  road,  along  which  we  had  marched  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  21st  of  July,  of  the  previous  year,  and 
by  which  we  made  our  way  to  Centreville  on  the  retreat. 
As  we  now  moved  along  to  the  sound  of  the  big  guns 
many  familiar  landmarks  were  pointed  out :  ' '  Say, 
Jack,  do  you  see  that  well  ?  That's  where  I  lost  my  cap 
last  year."  "Don't  you  remember  that  house,  Tom?" 
"Hello!  there's  a  few  rails  left  yet,  ain't  there?" 
"  There's  a  broken  wagon  wheel,  I  wonder  if  it  has  been 
lying  there  ever  since  ?  " 

What  a  contrast  there  was  between  our  feelings  and 


1 862. 


THUNDER  OF  BATTLE.  197 


actions  now,  and  that  Sunday  in  Sixty-one  !  Then  we 
supposed  the  rebels  would  never  stand  before  us  in  a  fair 
field  fight ;  now  we  knew  they  would,  and  that  only  by 
hard  knocks  and  a  great  sacrifice  of  lives  could  a  victory 
he  obtained.  Meanwhile,  as  we  approached  the  Stone 
Bridge  the  thunder  of  battle  grew  louder,  and  we  were 
put  to  the  double-quick.  We  crossed  the  bridge,  passed 
the  stone  house  at  the  intersection  of  the  Sudley  road 
and  pushed  on  towards  Grovetoii. 

Sigel,  who  with  the  First  corps  had  been  engaged  with 
the  enemy  since  half-past  six  o'clock,  says  of  our  arrival 
011  the  field  :  "I  now  directed  General  Schenck  (whose 
division  was  on  the  left  and  some  distance  in  advance  of 
the  other  divisions  of  the  corps),  to  draw  his  lines  nearer 
to  us,  and  to  attack  the  enemy's  right  flank  and  rear  by 
a  change  of  front  to  the  right,  thereby  assisting  our 
troops  in  the  center.  This  movement  could  not  be  exe 
cuted  by  General  Schenck  with  his  whole  division,  as  he 
became  briskly  engaged  with  the  enemy  who  tried  to 
turn  our  extreme  left.  At  this  critical  moment,  when 
the  enemy  had  almost  outflanked  us  on  both  wings,  and 
was  preparing  a  new  attack  against  our  center,  Major- 
General  Kearney  arrived  on  the  field  of  battle  and 
deployed  by  the  Sudley  Springs  road  on  the  right,  while 
General  Reno's  troops  came  to  our  support  by  the 
Gainesville  (Warrenton)  turnpike." 

Leasure's  brigade,  of  our  division,  was  sent  with 
Benjamin's  battery  to  support  the  right  of  Schenck's 
division  at  Grovetoii.  Benjamin  planted  his  guns  on  an 
elevation  just  south  of  the  turnpike,  at  the  outskirts  of 
the  town,  the  brigade  forming  on  the  reverse  side  of  the 
hill  in  support.  The  bulk  of  Schenck's  division  was  on 
their  left,  and  it  was  very  evident  that  a  large  force  of 
the  enemy  was  in  their  front,  and  which  proved  to  be  the 
left  of  Longstreet's  line  and  the  advance  troops  of  his 
command,  which  had  just  formed  a  junction  with  Jack- 


198  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

son.  No  wonder  Schenck  could  not  execute  the  change 
of  front  ordered  by  Sigel. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  turnpike,  and  in  a  line  with 
Benjamin's  guns,  was  a  battery  or  two  belonging  to 
Sigel's  command,  probably  to  Schenck's  division,  who, 
upon  our  arrival,  were  engaged  in  a  lively  cannonade 
against  the  newly  arrived  Confederates.  Benjamin's 
twenty-pounders  were  soon  adding  their  fire,  and  for 
an  hour  or  more  a  deadly  artillery  duel  was  fought. 
When  the  enemy's  fire  seemed  the  hottest,  the  guns  on 
Benjamin's  right,  with  their  infantry  supports,  were 
withdrawn.  Why,  we  did  not  learn,  unless  it  was 
because  they  were  out  of  ammunition.  But  none  were 
sent  to  take  their  places,  and  in  a  moment  or  two  the 
enemy  devoted  all  his  attention  to  Benjamin.  Appreci 
ating  the  danger  of  his  position,  Benjamin,  in  order  to 
deceive  the  enemy  and  also  to  infuse  fresh  courage  into 
his  men — many  of  whom  had  fallen — led  them  in  three 
hearty  cheers.  The  gunners  stuck  to  their  pieces  man 
fully,  and  Benjamin  remained  at  his  post  until  the  con 
centrated  fire  of  thirteen  rebel  guns  had  killed  and 
wounded  thirty  of  his  men  and  smashed  two  of  his 
pieces.  The  battery,  and  its  supports,  were  then  with 
drawn,  and  Schenck  soon  followed. 

It  was  unfortunate  that  our  position  at  Groveton  was 
not  strengthened  and  held.  By  a  slight  change  in  the 
direction  of  our  artillery  fire  our  guns  could  have  enfi 
laded  the  right  of  Jackson's  line.  The  mistake  in  with 
drawing  the  troops  was  discovered  when  too  late  to 
remedy  the  fault.  The  position  was  better  adapted  for 
fighting  a  battle  than  that  to  which  the  troops  were  now 
ordered.  As  soon  as  they  retired,  the  position  was  at 
once  secured  by  the  enemy,  who  not  only  saw  but  appre 
ciated  the  advantage.  During  the  afternoon  the  Union 
commander  saw  his  mistake  and  wished  to  re-occupy  the 
vantage  ground,  but  the  troops  who  were  sent  to  perform 


!862.  FIRED  AT  WILL.  199 

the  task  met  with  a  bloody  repulse.  Groveton  was  the 
key  to  the  line,  and  the  enemy  knew  it. 

Meanwhile,  Colonel  Christ's  brigade  had  been  sent 
north  of  the  pike,  to  support  General  Kearney,  while 
ours,  under  Colonel  Farnsworth,  was  ordered  to  report 
to  General  Sigel.  Captain  Lusk,  of  the  Highlanders, 
serving  at  the  time  on  General  Stevens'  staff,  conducted 
us  to  Sigel,  who  ordered  us  to  report  to  General  Schurz. 
Captain  Lusk  says  :  "  I  found  Schurz  leaning  against  a 
haystack,  near  the  woods,  and  by  him  was  directed  to 
take  the  command  into  the  woods  and  report  to  Colonel 
Schimmelpfennig,  who  was  at  that  time  behind  the  rail 
road  embankment.  Schimmelpfennig  did  not  give  any 
orders  direct  to  the  commander  of  the  brigade,  but 
requested  me  to  see  that  it  relieved  a  portion  of  his  men, 
that  the  latter  might  retire  to  get  something  to  eat." 

We  occupied  a  position  on  the  left  of  Schimmelpfen- 
nig's  brigade.  On  our  left  was  the  brigade  of  Colonel 
Kryzanowski ;  and  on  his  left,  General  Milroy,  also  com 
manding  a  brigade  of  Schurz's  division,  was  posted.  As 
we  moved  to  our  place  in  the  front  line  of  battle,  the 
enemy's  sharp-shooters  were  busy  picking  off  our  men  ; 
and  when  our  line  was  formed,  orders  were  given  to  fire 
a  few  volleys  into  the  woods.  We  did  so,  but  were  una 
ble  to  see  any  of  the  enemy.  Then  we  fired  at  will  for  a 
few  minutes,  aiming  at  nothing  in  particular.  Our  fire 
cleared  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  from  our  front,  how 
ever,  but  not  until  a  number  of  our  men  had  been 
wounded.  We  held  our  position  till  near  dark,  not 
knowing  what  was  going  on  on  either  side  of  us.  The 
troops  of  Schurz  had  been  withdrawn — some  of  them 
driven  back  by  the  enemy — but  Colonel  Farnsworth  had 
received  no  orders  from  any  one,  and  when  the  left  of 
our  main  line  had  been  driven  back,  late  in  the  day, 
Gen'l  Stevens  set  out  to  find  the  brigades  of  his  command. 
Captain  Lusk  says  again  :  "  I  was  directed  to  find  Farns- 


200  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

worth  ;  was  sent  by  Sigel  to  Schurz,  and  by  Schurz  to 
Schimmelpfennig.  The  gallant  German,  when  at  last 
found,  exclaimed  :  '  Mein  Got !  de  troops,  dey  all  rimned 
avay,  and  I  guess  your  men  runned  avay  too  !'  General 
Stevens  was  indignant,  and  used  some  pretty  strong  lan 
guage  when  I  carried  back  this  report,  and  ordered  me  to 
find  the  missing  regiments,  and  not  to  return  until  I 
brought  them  with  me.  I  started,  therefore,  for  the  old 
railroad  embankment.  Luckily  I  found  Farns worth  just 
on  the  edge  of  the  woods.  He  said  he  was  waiting  for 
orders  ;  had  had  none  since  I  left  him  in  the  morning. 
We  had  scarcely  started  back,  to  rejoin  Stevens,  when 
the  enemy's  skirmishers  appeared,  to  occupy  the 
ground." 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  our  two  little  regiments 
hadn't  " runned  avay"  at  all,  but  had  held  the  position 
assigned  them  by  Schimmelpfennig  himself  ;  and  when 
his  troops  "runned  avay,"  he  forgot  all  about  us.  Had 
the  enemy  known  that  but  two  small  regiments  were  in 
their  front  for  two  or  three  hours,  doubtless  we  would 
have  been  compelled  to  fall  back,  too,  but  we  certainly 
did  not  have  any  occasion  to  retreat,  and  Farnsworth  was 
not  the  man  to  fall  back  or  abandon  his  position  without 
orders.  We  were  now  withdrawn  across  the  open  field, 
to  a  belt  of  woods,  where  line  was  established  for  the 
night. 

General  Stevens  had  accompanied  Leasure's  brigade 
when  it  was  sent  to  Groveton,  and  in  the  afternoon  he 
supported  Kearney's  division  in  a  desperate  charge  on  the 
enemy,  who  occupied  the  line  of  the  railroad  grade,  some 
distance  to  our  right.  In.  this  charge  the  Roundheads 
suffered  greatly,  while  General  Stevens  had  his  horse  shot 
under  him.  When  the  fighting  was  over  for  the  day, 
the  brigades  were  brought  together  and  Stevens  resumed 
command  of  his  division. 

We  found  some  coffee  had  been  prepared  for  us,  and  a 


1 862.  COUNCIL  OF  WAR.  201 

quarter  of  beef  was  lying  in  the  woods,  a  short  distance 
in  our  rear.  By  threes  and  fours  we  were  allowed  to 
leave  the  line  for  a  few  minutes,  in  order  to  obtain  the 
much-needed  refreshment.  Small  fires  had  been  kindled, 
over  which,  on  the  ends  of  our  ramrods,  we  toasted  the 
strips  of  meat,  cut  from  the  quarter  lying  on  the  ground. 
Swallowing  this,  in  a  minute  or  two,  we  were  obliged  to 
return  to  the  line,  that  others  might  obtain  their  supper. 
No  one  was  allowed  to  sleep.  It  was  a  dreary  night  and 
an  anxious  one  to  all  of  us.  ^We  could  not  see  that  any 
advantage  had  been  gained  by  our  army,  and  the  shadows 
of  Sixty-one  hung  over  the  field  of  Sixty-two.  Long  into 
the  night  the  musketry  fire  on  our  left  continued,  and 
from  our  position,  at  the  edge  of  the  woods,  we  could  see 
the  flash  of  the  rifles.  We  were  too  far  off  to  hear  the 
reports  of  the  guns,  but  the  flashes  were  clearly  visible, 
and  looked  like  myriads  of  fire-flies  in  the  distance.  The 
dreary  night  wore  slowly  away  and  at  last  gave  place  to 
daylight  of  the  30th. 

During  the  night  the  enemy  had  withdrawn  his 
advance  troops  a  short  distance,  in  order  to  re-arrange 
his  lines  for  the  decisive  battle  that  was  about  to.  be 
fought,  and  when  daylight  appeared  General  Pope  and 
many  of  his  subordinates  believed  that  the  enemy  had 
retreated.  A  council  of  war  was  held,  of  general 
officers  at  Pope's  headquarters,  and  the  majority  of  them 
inclined  to  the  belief  held  by  Pope.  General  Stevens 
however,  insisted  that  the  enemy  would  be  found,  where 
upon  Pope  ordered  him  to  feel  the  enemy  in  his  front. 
While  this  conference  was  taking  place  we  had  been 
moved  a  mile  or  thereabouts  to  the  right  of  the  position 
occupied  during  the  night,  and  when  General  Stevens 
returned  to  his  command,  Captain  More,  in  command  of 
about  one  hundred  men,  was  ordered  to  deploy  a  line  of 
skirmishers,  and  advance  till  the  enemy  was  found,  the 
movement  being  supported  by  the  balance  of  the  regi 
ment  under  command  of  Major  Elliot. 


202  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

Our  skirmish  line  had  not  got  far  into  the  woods  in 
our  front,  before  they  were  met  by  a  heavy  fire  from  the 
enemy  concealed  there  ;  pushing  on  our  men  drove  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  back,  and  when  their  main  line  was 
encountered  at  the  railroad  cut,  the  volleys  of  musketry 
that  met  them  caused  a  halt.  Captain  More  was  severely, 
it  was  thought  fatally,  wounded,  and  was  carried  from 
the  field,  and  word  was  sent  back  to  General  Stevens 
that  the  enemy's  position  had  been  developed.  The  com 
mand  was  then  recalled.  We  suffered  severely  during 
the  advance,  and  when  the  point  from  which  we  started 
was  regained  the  regiment,  with  others  of  the  division, 
was  ordered  in  support  of  our  batteries,  which  had  taken 
positions  a  little  west  of  the  Sudley  road.  The  enemy 
soon  re-occupied  the  ground  from  which  they  had  been 
driven,  and  thus  matters  remained  in  our  immediate 
front  till  late'  in  the  afternoon.  In  our  front  was  an  open 
field,  sloping  gently  down,  to  the  woods,  and  to  our  left 
the  country  was  partially  cleared  so  that  the  movement 
of  troops  could  be  pretty  clearly  observed. 

Of  the  movements  on  our  left  General  Sigel  says  : 
"On  Saturday,  the  30th  of  August,  I  was  informed  by 
Major-General  Pope  that  it  was  his  intention  to  break 
the  enemy's  left,  and  that  I,  with  the  First  corps,  should 
hold  the  center  ;  Major-General  Eeno  should  take  posi 
tion  on  my  right  and  General  Reynolds  on  my  left. 

"  After  having  taken  position  as  ordered,  the  corps  of 
Major- General  (Fitz  John)  Porter  passed  between  the 
enemy  and  our  lines,  and  was  forming  a  line  of  battle  on 
the  open  field  before  the  First  corps  and  that  of  General 
Reno,  masking  thereby  oar  whole  front."  After  a  while 
Porter's  troops  advanced  into  the  woods  in  their  front, 
and  Sigel  continues  :  "Suddenly  heavy  discharges  began 
in  front,  the  corps  of  General  Porter  having  met  the 
enemy,  who  was  advantageously  posted  behind  a  well- 
adapted  breastwork — the  old  Manassas  Gap  railroad 


i862.  FARNSWORTH  WAS  HIT.  203 

track.  During  the  execution  of  these  move 

ments  General  Porter's  troops  came  out  of  the  woods  in 
pretty  good  order,  bringing  a  great  number  of  wounded 
with  them." 

It  was  only  the  front  of  the  Second  division  of  our 
command  that  was  thus  covered  for  a  time  by  Porter's 
corps,  for  while  these  movements  were  progressing  on 
our  left,  the  batteries  which  we  were  supporting,  kept 
up  a  steady  fire  across  the  clear  space  into  the  woods  in 
our  front,  preventing  the  enemy  from  making  any 
advance  in  that  direction.  Late  in  the  afternoon  our  line 
was  weakened  by  the  withdrawal  of  troops  to  support 
the  left,  now  strongly  pressed  by  the  enemy  under  Long- 
street,  and  the  bulk  of  our  Second  division  was  sent  in 
that  direction. 

A  number  of  our  men  were  killed  and  wounded  by 
bursting  shells  as  we  lay  behind  our  guns.  Colonel 
Farnsworth  was  hit  in  the  leg  and  received  a  wound 
which  disabled  him.  General  Eicketts  with  two  brigades 
of  his  division  was  on  our  right  at  this  time,  and  General 
Stevens  and  he  watched  anxiously  the  progress  of  the 
battle.  About  six  o'clock  we  noticed  that  the  enemy 
was  forcing  the  left  of  our  line  ;  we  could  see  our  troops 
falling  back,  some  of  them  in  confusion,  and  realized 
that  if  a  determined  assault  was  made  on  our  position, 
our  line,  weakened  by  the  absence  of  troops  which  had 
been  sent  to  reinforce  our  left,  would  hardly  be  able  to 
resist  the  charge.  The  line  of  fire  driving  slowly  but 
surely  back  on  the  left,  we  soon  observed  that  in  our 
front  the  enemy  was  gathering  for  an  assault.  Our 
artillery  fire  was  increased,  and  just  as  the  enemy's 
skirmish  line  appeared  advancing  from  the  cover  of  the 
woods,  a  mounted  officer  came  spurring  at  a  gallop  to 
where  Generals  Stevens  and  Ricketts  were  standing,  and 
delivered  General  Pope's  orders  to  fall  back  at  once  ;  that 
the  left  had  been  turned,  and  that  if  we  did  not  fall  back 
instantly  we  would  be  cut  off  and  captured. 


20-i  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

Accordingly,  without  haste  and  without  the  least  con 
fusion,  the  batteries  limbered  up  and  moved  back  to  the 
Sudley  road,  and  by  that  road  and  the  Warrenton  pike 
to  and  across  the  Stone  Bridge.  Eicketts'  division  fol 
lowed  and  then  ours.  As  soon  as  we  began  moving  back,, 
the  enemy  nocked  out  of  the  woods  in  considerable 
numbers,  and  pressed  so  hard  that  twice  we  formed  a 
partial  line  and  delivered  a  few  volleys  which  retarded 
their  advance.  The  second  time,  and  just  as  our  brigade 
was  forming  line,  and  the  rear  of  the  other  regiments 
were  filing  past  out  of  our  front,  we  heard  the  exulting 
shouts  and  yells  of  the  enemy,  who  had  gained  the  posi 
tion  just  left  by  us.  At  that  moment  too,  and  just  as 
the  early  twilight  rendered  objects  indistinct  in  the  woods, 
a  one-armed  horseman  galloped  up  followed  by  some 
straggling  infantry  ;  we  recognized  General  Kearney. 

' '  What  in  h — 1  are  you  d d  cowards  running  away 

for  ?  "  he  exclaimed— a  regiment  on  our  right  had  broken, 
and  the  general  no  doubt  thought  that  a  stampede  was- 
about  to  take  place.  Some  one  replied  that  we  were  not 
running  away  very  much  just  then,  and  that  if  he 
wanted  to  know  why  we  had  left  our  position,  he  could 
"go  and  see."  Turning  to  his  men  he  shouted  :  "Come 
on  boys  !  We'll  show  these  fellows  how  to  fight  ! "  It 
seemed  but  a  moment,  before  we  heard  a  terrific  volley 
of  musketry,  the  bullets  whistling  over  our  heads,  and 
a  moment  later  the  gallant  Kearney  came  dashing  back 
through  the  woods,  his  men  following  at  his  heels  in 
great  disorder.  "  By  -  -  boys  !  it's  hotter  than  h — 1 
there  ! "  he  exclaimed,  and  disappeared  with  his  men. 
The  enemy  followed  yelling  and  firing  at  the  retreating 
troops,  but  Stevens'  veterans  stood  firm.  Captain  Lusk 
says:  "Captain  Stevens,  our  Assistant  Adjutant-gen 
eral,  realizing  the  necessity  of  presenting  a  bold  and 
determined  front  to  the  enemy,  caused  the  Highlanders 
and  another  regiment  on  their  right  to  again  halt  for  a 


1 862.  VISIONS  OF  LIBBY.  205 

few  minutes  and  to  pour  so  well  aimed  and  heavy  a 
volley  into  the  faces  of  the  exulting  enemy  that  they  in 
turn  fell  back  into  the  heavy  woods." 

Kearney  had  hurried  with  a  portion  of  his  division  to 
support  our  line  and  with  his  usual  impetuosity  had  out 
stripped  all  but  a  handful  of  his  men ;  even  then  he 
came  too  late.  It  was  frequently  remarked  that  Kearney 
should  never  have  been  placed  in  command  of  infantry  ; 
well  mounted  cavalry  were  the  only  troops  that  could 
keep  up  with  the  dashing  soldier,  when  on  the  field. 

Eicketts'  and  our  division  now  moved  directly  to  the 
rear,  crossing  the  Sudley  road  instead  of  following  the 
artillery  down  it,  and  we  soon  found  Eicketts  posted  in 
line  upon  the  crest  of  quite  an  eminence  near  the  Carter 
House,  almost  on  the  same  spot  where  our  first  line  of 
battle  was  formed  when  we  entered  the  field  at  the  first 
Bull  Eun.  We  filed  in  behind  them  in  close  order  and 
halted.  It  was  now  dusk.  The  pursuing  enemy  came 
up  to  the  foot  of  the  eminence  when  Eicketts'  line 
opened  fire  upon  them,  and  they  halted.  It  was  now 
pitch  dark.  Eicketts'  division  silently  moved  off. 

A  few  moments  after  Eicketts  withdrew,  musketry 
firing  in  our  front  warned  us  that  the  enemy  was  close 
by,  and  General  Stevens,  knowing  that  there  was  now 
nothing  between  his  command  and  the  enemy,  sent  Lieu 
tenant  Heffron,  of  the  Highlanders,  one  of  his  aids,  to  go 
to  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  observe  carefully,  and  note 
whether  the  enemy  were  advancing.  Heffron  discerning 
nothing  from  the  crest,  incautiously  rode  down  the  hill 
and  soon  encountered  a  line  of  troops.  To  turn  about 
and  ride  back  would  have  discovered  his  identity  at  once. 
Putting  on  an  indifferent  air  he  asked:  "What  regi 
ment  is  this  ?"  The  reply  was  more  prompt  than  satis 
factory  :  "Fifth  Alabama."  "All  right,"  responded 
Heffron— as  coolly  as  though  visions  of  Libby  Prison 
were  not  dancing  before  his  imagination — and  quietly 


SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  Augustr 

turned  his  horse  and  began  to  ride  off  on  a  line  parallel 
with  the  line  of  troops,  intending  to  gradually  draw  off 
towards  our  own  lines.  He  had  gone  but  a  few  paces 
however,  when  the  Alabamian  cried,  "Halt !  Who  are 
you  ?"  Heffron  pretended  not  to  hear,  but  the  command 
was  repeated  so  sharply,  that  a  failure  to  comply  would 
doubtless  have  lost  the  Highlanders  one  of  their  most 
popula  rofficers,  so  to  the  question,  "Who  are  you?" 
again  repeated,  he  replied:  "  A  Union  Officer."  "Dis 
mount,  d — d  quick  !"  was  the  next  command,  which  he 
instantly  obeyed,  and  was  conducted  to  the  headquarters 
of  the  rebel  army,  where  he  was  kindly  treated.  Heffron 
was  disposed  to  look  upon  his  misfortune  as  one  of  the 
chances  of  war,  and  to  treat  the  matter  philosophically. 
Having  no  blanket  of  his  own  he  appropriated  the  first 
one  he  saw,  rolled  himself  up  in  it  and  slept  soundly  till 
morning,  when  he  learned  that  he  had  taken  possession 
of  a  Confederate  general's  bed-clothes  !  Fortunately  his 
imprisonment  was  of  short  duration,  for  he  was  soon 
exchanged,  and  rejoined  the  regiment  in  October. 

Heffron  not  returning,  General  Stevens  sent  his  son, 
Captain  Hazard  Stevens,  with  the  same  instructions  he 
had  given  Heffron.  The  Captain  says  :  "I  rode  back  to 
the  crest,  strained  my  eyes  into  the  gloom,  but  could  see 
nothing, — listened,  but  could  hear  nothing— was  on 
the  point  of  riding  a  few  paces  down  the  hill  to  make 
sure,  but,  rendered  more  careful  by  Heffron's  disap 
pearance,  luckily  resisted  the  impulse  and  returned. 
By  this  time  the  command  was  filing  on  in  retreat, 
under  the  guidance  of  Major  Elliot  of  the  High 
landers,  who  undertook  to  find  the  ford  across  Bull  Eun 
by  which  the  regiment  advanced  to  the  first  battle  of 
Bull  Run  the  year  before,  and  did  so  successfully." 

We  crossed  at  Farm  Ford,  bringing  up  the  rear  on  our 
line  of  march,  while  a  strong  guard  was  thrown  out  to 
pick  up  all  stragglers  and  destroy  such  arms  as  were 


1 862.  A   COVERING   PARTY.  207 

found  lying  about  in  our  line  of  march.  Striking  the 
turnpike,  the  regiment  crossed  Cub  Eun  and  went  into 
bivouac  near  Centreville,  where  we  lay  on  our  arms  all 
night.  So  tired  and  worn  out  were  many  of  the  men 
that  several  fell  out  of  the  ranks  and  were  taken  prison 
ers.  We  learned,  too,  than  several  of  the  drum  corps 
had  been  captured  while  conveying  the  wounded  to  the 
field  hospital.  While  being  removed,  Colonel  Farris- 
worth,  irritated  by  his  wound  which  was  a  painful  one, 
found  so  much  fault  with  his  bearers  that  the  boys, 
unused  to  such  ingratitude,  dropped  their  burden,  and 
left  him  to  find  his  own  way  to  the  hospital  or  within 
the  lines.  The  Colonel  was  brought  safely  off,  however. 
When  the  rear  guard  of  the  column,  which  retired  by 
way  of  the  Stone  Bridge,  had  passed  that  place,  the 
bridge  was  blown  up,  in  order  to  retard  the  enemy's 
advance. 

When  the  regiment  retired  from  the  field,  companies 
B  and  H,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  D.  G.  Fal 
coner,  of  Company  B,  were  detailed  to  remain  in  the 
position  last  occupied  by  the  line,  to  serve  as  a  covering 
party,  with  instructions  to  remain  until  all  the  troops  had 
retired,  and  to  note  whether  any  advance  was  made  by 
the  enemy.  A  portion  of  Jackson's  command  had  been 
observed  moving  to  our  right,  just  at  dusk,  and  it  was 
feared  an  effort  might  be  made  to  strike  our  column  in 
flank  as  it  moved  towards  the  crossing  of  the  stream. 
This  duty  was  extremely  delicate  and  required  the  utmost 
caution  on  our  part.  Lieutenant  Falconer  thus  describes 
the  movements  of  his  command  :  "Captain  Graham  (of 
Company  H)  being  disabled,  I  was  assigned  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  two  companies.  Our  canteens  and  tin  cups 
were  muffled  to  prevent  their  rattling,  and  we  were 
ordered  to  remain  on  the  ground  till  all  the  troops  were 
across  Bull  Run,  and  then  to  get  across  ourselves  as  best 
we  could.  We  waited  there  until  everything  was  across 


208  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

and  then  quietly  marched  in  the  same  direction.  As  we 
iieared  the  stream  we  found  that  the  enemy  were  close  to 
it  and  but  a  short  distance  off  on  our  left ;  their  camp 
fires  could  be  distinctly  seen,  and  just  as  we  got  to  the 
edge  of  the  water  we  were  fired  upon  by  some  of  their 
pickets.  The  command  got  down  the  bank  as  best  they 
could,  quietly,  and  waded  across. 

' '  On  the  north  side  we  found  bodies  of  troops  march 
ing  towards  the  turnpike,  but  we  could  learn  nothing  of 
our  own  regiment.  We  ascertained  from  some  mounted 
officers  that  the  army  was  falling  back  on  Centreville, 
and  thither  we  proceeded,  making  frequent  inquiries  for 
the  regiment  but  not  finding  it.  We  reached  Centreville 
shortly  before  midnight  and  bivouacked  in  an  open  field, 
the  rain  falling  meanwhile  ;  but  we  slept  soundly  till 
morning,  and  then  found  the  regiment  stationed  on  the 
skirmish  line,  a  short  distance  east  of  Cub  Run." 

It  may  be  interesting  to  the  Highlanders  to  know  that 
the  Henry  Hill,  near  the  extreme  left  of  our  line,  was  the 
scene  of  as  bloody  a  repulse  to  a  portion  of  the  enemy, 
just  at  the  close  of  the  battle,  as  it  had  been  to  us  at  the 
first  battle.  The  valliant  men  we  have  to  thank  for  this 
was  the  Second  brigade  of  our  Second  division  and  Gra 
ham's  battery  of  U.  S.  Artillery,  under  the  personal 
direction  of  General  Reno.  The  following  account  of 
this  brilliant  affair  is  taken  from  General  Walcott's 
"  History  of  the  Twenty-first  Massachusetts  Volun 
teers  "  : 

"  As  we  came  to  the  hill,  General  McDowell,  known  to 
us  all  by  his  peculiar  white  hat,  came  up  to  General  Reno 
and  shook  hands.  The  last  Union  troops  withdrew  from 
our  front,  and  we  moved  into  position  on  the  crest  of  the 
hill,  drowning  the  rebel  yells  with  cheers  for  ten  thou 
sand  men.  *  *  *  The  rebels  waited  to  re-form  their 
disordered  lines  before  essaying  an  attack,  which  gave 
General  Reno  time  to  get  up  a  battery,  and  us  an  oppor- 


,862.  AN    ACT   OF   HEROISM.  209 

t unity  to  observe  the  situation.  We  covered  the  crossing 
of  the  Centre ville  pike  over  Young's  Branch,  and  held  a 
magnificent  position  for  defense.  The  brigade  was  formed 
on  a  curved  ridge,  refusing  the  flanks  a  little.  On  the 
left  was  the  Fifty-First  New  York,  with  their  left  resting 
near  a  small  stream  (a  tributary  of  Young's  Branch),  the 
banks  of  which  were  fringed  with  thick  bushes.  The 
Twenty-First  Massachusetts  was  in  the  center,  and  the 
Fifty-First  Pennsylvania  on  the  right. 

' k  General  Reno  posted  his  battery  of  smooth-bores, 
double- shotted  with  canister,  on  a  line  with  the  infantry, 
and  in  the  short  intervals  between  the  regiments.  In 
our  front  was  an  open  space  of  a  few  hundred  yards,  of 
gently  sloping  ground,  ending  in  a  grove.  Behind  us  a 
struggling  mass  of  artillery  and  wagons  were  trying  to 
cross  the  bridge  over  Young's  Branch,  blocking  the  road 
as  far  as  we  could  see  ;  and  not  a  soldier  that  we  saw  or 
knew  of,  besides  ourselves,  stood  in  line  of  battle  or  in 
reserve.  Close  in  our  rear,  under  the  shelter  of  the  hill, 
a  temporary  hospital  had  been  established,  and  all  around 
us  the  ground  was  thickly  covered  with  wounded  men. 
The  mere  fact  that  that  thin,  unsupported  line  of  fifteen 
hundred  men  waited  there,  so  steady  and  fearless,  for  the 
assault  of  the  rebel  masses  which  were  forming  in 
their  front,  was  an  act  of  heroism  seldom  paralleled  in 
war. 

"We  had  not  long  to  wait.  The  sun  had  set  and  it 
was  beginning  to  grow  dark  when  we  heard  a  confused 
hum  and  the  rush  of  many  feet  in  our  front.  '  Stand 
up  !'  was  the  order,  and  every  man  was  on  his  feet.  The 
open  space  in  our  front  was  now  alive  with  the  rebel 
masses,  and  General  Reno  gave  the  welcome  order : 
'  Give  them  about  ten  rounds,  boys.  Fire  !'  A  simulta 
neous  volley  rolled  from  infantry  and  artillery  ;  and  then 
it  was  every  man  for  himself,  and  they  made  quick  work. 
Our  cartridges  were  of  such  small  calibre  that  no  ram- 

14 


210  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  August, 

ining  was  required,  and  tfhe  men  had  hardly  got  well 
warmed  up  before  the  firing  was  stopped.  Nothing  was 
standing  on  the  field  in  front  of  us. 

' '  For  half  an  hour  we  were  unmolested, 
when  a  force  of  the  enemy,  who,  concealed  by  the  thick 
brush,  had  crawled  along  the  banks  of  the  creek  on  our 
left,  struck  the  Fifty-First  New  York  on  the  flank  with 
startling  suddenness,  and  rolled  them  up  with  the  loss  of 
eighty-five  men  in  a  few  seconds.  The  Twenty- First 
made  a  rapid  change  of  front  to  face  the  enemy  in  his 
new  position,  and  added  their  fire  to  that  of  the  indomi 
table  Fifty-First,  who  were  now  fighting  mosfc  gallantly. 
Two  pieces  of  artillery  were  brought  to  the  left,  and  the 
enemy  was  as  fatally  repulsed  as  before,  and  our  line  re 
established.  *  About  nine  o'clock  General  Reno 
passed  along  the  line  and  told  us  we  were  to  abandon  our 
position,  and  that  our  lives  depended  on  the  secrecy  of 
the  movement.  The  artillery  was  run  off  by  hand,  piece 
by  piece  ;  and,  leaving  our  surgeons  behind  to  care  for 
the  wounded,  the  regiments  followed  in  succession  from 
the  right,  file  by  file,  re-forming  across  Young's  Branch." 


1 862.  COVERED   WITH   MUD. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

POPE'S  CAMPAIGN  [CONCLUDED].     BATTLE  OF  CHANTILLY. 

RENO'S  Command  Under  General  Stevens  Hold  the  Lines  on  the  3ist. — Return 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Morrison. — Off  for  Chantilly. — Highlanders  on  Skir 
mish  Line. — Captain  Hazard  Stevens. — Apples  and  Bullets. — Formation  of 
the  Division  for  the  Charge. — Charge  Described  by  Captain  Stevens. — Charge 
of  Morrison's  Brigade. — Six  Color-Bearers  of  the  Highlanders  Fall. — General 
Stevens  Seizes  the  Flag. — His  Death. — Violent  Storm. — The  Enemy  Driven 
Back. — General  Kearney  Reaches  the  Field. — Longstreet's  Account  of  Kear 
ney's  Death. — The  Entire  Rebel  Army  Placed  on  the  Defensive,  and  Pope's 
Army  Saved  from  Disaster. — The  Unequal  Contest. — Reno  Orders  General 
Stevens  Buried  on  the  Field. — Highlanders  Indignant. — Stevens'  Body  and 
the  Flag  sent  to  his  Family. — How  We  Passed  the  Night. — Arrival  at  Alex 
andria.— Strength  of  the  Regiment  September  2d. — Move  to  Meridian  Hill, 
Washington. 

Sunday,  the  31st,  the  two  divisions  of  the  Ninth 
corps,  under  command  of  General  Stevens,  General 
Reno  being  sick  and  off  duty,  were  formed  across  the  turn 
pike,  about  a  mile  west  of  Centreville,  on  the  high  ground 
overlooking  the  valley  of  Cub  Run.  Besides  the  artillery 
of  the  corps,  which  was  posted  advantageously  along  the 
line,  a  strong  force  of  cavalry  occupied  the  flanks  of  our 
position,  while  a  heavy  skirmish  line  was  well  advanced. 
Our  brigade  was  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  the  High 
landers  were  on  the  skirmish  line,  covering  the  brigade 
front.  Rain  began  to  fall  at  daylight  and  our  condition 
was,  to  say  the  least,  uncomfortable.  No  supper  the 
night  before  ;  no  breakfast  or  prospect  of  any  ;  defeated 
in  battle  ;  wet  through  to  the  skin,  and  covered  with  mud 
from  head  to  feet,  we  presented  a  rather  demoralized 
appearance.  But  though  defeated,  we  were  by  no  means 


212  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

vanquished.  We  fought  the  Second  Bull  Kun,  but  did 
not  skedaddle.  We  were  ready  and  willing  to  receive 
the  enemy  whenever  he  saw  fit  to  advance. 

The  enemy  was  not  more  than  five  hundred  yards  dis 
tant  from  our  line,  in  strong  force,  apparently,  and  well 
supported  by  artillery,  which  kept  up  a  steady  fire  on  oar 
lines,  to  which  our  batteries  replied  ;  but  no  attempt  was 
made  to  force  our  lines,  for  reasons  that  will  soon  appear. 
At  nightfall,  after  a  wet  and  drizzling  day,  we  were 
relieved  by  General  Eeynolds'  division  of  the  Third  corps  ; 
and,  marching  to  the  heights  about  half  a  mile  south  of 
Centreville,  we  bivouacked  for  the  night  in  an  open  field. 

On  Monday  morning,  September  1st,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Morrison,  who  had  been  absent  on  account  of  wounds 
received  at  James  Island,  rejoined  the  regiment,  and  was 
at  once  given  command  of  the  brigade,  in  place  of  Colonel 
Farnsworth.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  two 
cavalrymen  dashed  up  to  General  Stevens'  headquarters, 
with  orders  for  the  division  to  march  immediately  by  the 
Warreriton.  pike  and  a  cross-country  road — with  the 
cavalrymen  as  guides — to  the  Little  Eiver  pike,  and 
there  take  position  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check,  who  was 
reported  as  advancing  in  force  down  that  road,  with  the 
evident  design  of  striking  our  flank  and  seizing  our  line 
of  retreat  at  or  near  Fairfax  Court  House.  General 
Stevens  had  remarked,  on  Sunday,  that  the  failure  of  the 
enemy  to  press  our  line  west  of  Centreville  indicated 
that  they  would  Si  likely  move  around  and  strike  us 
under  the  ribs"— a  prediction  that  was  now  being 
verified. 

Shortly  before  the  order  to  march  was  received,  Gene 
ral  Stevens  had  caused  the  stacks  of  muskets  to  be 
counted  as  they  stood  in  front  of  the  several  regiments, 
as  being  the  best  method  of  ascertaining  the  effective 
strength  of  the  division.  Captain  Stevens  reported  2,012 
muskets.  The  effective  rank  and  file  when  we  left  Fred- 


.~$£^. 

•s^SSpH. 


[NOTE. — The  author  has  searched  diligently  among  the  maps  published  by  the  Government,  as 
well  as  among  those  contained  in  printed  accounts  of  the  battle,  but  found  nothing  except  what 
was  incorrect  and  misleading.  Many  accounts  of  the  battle  heretofore  printed  are  also  erroneous. 
The  above  map  was  drawn  from  sketches  made  by  Generals  Hazard  Stevens  and  Charles  F.  Wal- 
cott,  on  the  field  in  1883.  General  Walcott  was  a  Captain  in  the  2ist  Massachusetts,  and  General 
Stevens  was  Captain  and  A.  A.  G.  of  Stevens'  division  during  the  battle. 

The  positions  of  Union  troops  are  located  by  the  above  named  officers,  and  those  of  the  Confed 
erates  according  to  their  official  reports. 

The  diagram  below  the  map  shows  the  relation  the  battle  sustained  to  the  Union  army  on  its 
retreat  to  Washington.] 


1 862.  CAVALRY   GUIDES.  215 

ericksburgh,  August  13th,  was  about  4,000,  so  that  in  the 
battles  of  the  29th  and  30th,  and  in  the  losses  from  dis 
ability  on  the  forced  marches,  the  division  had  lost  about 
one-half  its  strength. 

We  were  soon  on  the  march,  passing  through  the  fields 
till  we  struck  the  Warrenton  pike,  about  a  mile  east  of 
Centre ville,  and  here  a  small  brigade  of  Reno's  division 
fell  in  and  followed  ours.  We  proceeded  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  further  on  the  pike  toward  Fairfax  Court 
House,  and  then  turned  off  to  the  left  and  followed  a  cart 
road,  in  an  irregular  north-easterly  direction  towards  the 
Little  River  pike.  The  Highlanders  held  the  right  of  the 
column,  but  in  front  of  us  rode  General  Stevens  and 
staff  with  the  cavalry  guides.  The  latter  informed 
Captain  Stevens  that  they  had  been  out  foraging  that 
morning  in  the  direction  of  Chantilly,  and  had  run  into 
a  heavy  column  of  the  enemy  advancing  down  the  turn 
pike,  and  had  immediately  galloped  back  to  General 
Pope's  headquarters  with  the  information,  whence  they 
were  at  once  despatched  to  General  Stevens  with  the 
order  as  already  stated. 

Proceeding  in  this  way  about  two  miles  after  turning 
off  from  the  Warrenton  pike,  the  column  was  crossing  a 
tract  of  high,  open  country,  which  sloped  down  gently  in 
front  to  a  marshy  hollow  covered  with  shrubs  and  par 
tially  timbered.  Beyond  it  open  fields  appeared  again,  and 
beyond  them  dense  woods.  Those  at  the  head  of  the 
column  soon  saw  a  thin  line  of  men  deployed  across  the 
farthest  fields,  and  cautiously  advancing,  as  if  to  strike 
the  Warrenton  pike  between  Centreville  and  Fairfax 
Court  House,  less  than  a  mile  distant,  and  which  was  no  w 
filled  with  the  retreating  troops  and  trains  of  the  Union 
army. 

General  Stevens  saw  at  a  glance  that  this  movement 
of  the  enemy's  must  be  arrested,  or  the  line  of  retreat 
would  be  intercepted,  the  army  cut  in  two  while  widely 


216  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

extended  on  the  road,  and  a  great  disaster  inflicted.  He 
called  on  Lieut. -Col.  Morrison  for  three  companies  of  the 
Highlanders,  and  those  on  the  right  of  the  line  were  at 
once  deployed  to  form  a  skirmish  line.  Captains  Lusk  and 
Ives  and  Lieut.  D.  Gr.  Falconer  were  the  officers  in  charge 
of  the  line,  Captain  Lusk  directing  the  right  while  Cap 
tain  Ives  had  charge  of  the  left  wing.  The  line  advanced, 
and  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  encountered  a  brook,  deep  in 
many  places,  and  lined  on  both  sides  with  a  tangled 
growth  of  brush  and  vines.  Pushing  through  this  the 
line  emerged  into  more  open  ground.  The  left  of  the 
line  crossed  the  hollow  where  there  was  less  undergrowth 
to  intercept  the  view,  and  through  which  ran  the  old  and 
incomplete  railroad  bed — the  projected  Manassas  Gap  rail 
road.  It  was  the  continuation  of  this  line  that  formed 
Jackson's  line  of  defence  on  Friday  and  Saturday.  As 
the  men  crossed  this  grade,  here  an  embankment,  they 
exchanged  fire  with  the  rebel  skirmishers  who  fell  back. 

Captain  Stevens  accompanied  this  part  of  our  line  and 
recalls  the  following  incident :  "I  rode  up  the  railroad 
bank  to  observe,  and  while  standing  there  saw  a  rebel 
soldier  at  some  distance  helping  a  wounded  comrade  oft0 
the  field,  with  one  arm  around  his  waist.  Seeing  a 
mounted  officer  on  the  embankment,  he  took  his  arm 
from  his  comrade's  support,  deliberately  aimed  his  piece, 
and  fired  ;  and,  at  the  instant,  the  bullet  passed  through 
the  rim  of  my  hat,  inflicting  a  sharp  rap  on  the  head, 
which  made  it  tingle  and  ache  for  some  time.  Twenty 
muskets  were  fired  at  him  in  return,  without  effect,  and 
with  perfect  deliberation  he  shifted  his  musket  to  his  left 
hand,  clasped  his  right  arm  again  around  his  comrade's 
waist  and  helped  him  slowly  back  until  they  disappeared 
in  a  field  of  corn  behind  them." 

The  skirmishers  were  ordered  to  push  on  and  uncover 
the  enemy's  position.  In  front  of  the  left  of  our  line  we 
observed  a  house  and  outbuildings,  with  an  apple-orchard 


1 862.  AN  ELDERLY  COUPLE.  217 

on  the  right  of  the  house  and  a  large  corn-field  beyond  the 
orchard.  When  our  line  was  about  half  way  across  the 
open  space,  the  enemy's  skirmishers  opened  a  brisk  fire 
from  the  edge  of  the  orchard  and  corn-field,  but  as  they 
were  well  covered  nothing  could  be  seen  but  the  puffs  of 
smoke.  Our  line  advanced  steadily,  firing  an  occasional 
shot  as  a  glimpse  was  obtained  of  anything  to  shoot  at, 
and  when  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  house,  our  men, 
in  order  to  gain  the  cover  of  the  fence  and  trees,  started 
on  a  run,  the  enemy's  line  falling  back  as  we  advanced. 
On  reaching  the  (Reid)  house,  occupied  by  a  family  named 
Heath,  we  saw  through  the  open  doorway  and  windows, 
two  or  three  of  the  enemy  making  a  hurried  exit  into  the 
cover  of  the  orchard  and  corn-field  beyond.  The  occu 
pants  of  the  house,  an  elderly  couple,  now  presented 
themselves,  and  without  waiting  to  be  questioned  said  : 
* '  We  have  n't  seen  any  Southern  soldiers  about  here  at 
all,  and  we  hope  there  won't  be  any  fighting  about  the 
house  !"  At  that  instant  we  heard  the  reports  from 
several  rifles  a  short  distance  beyond  the  house;  two  of 
our  men  were  hit,  and  the  parley  with  the  occupants  of 
the  house  was  suddenly  terminated.  Our  line  was  now 
ordered  to  advance  through  the  orchard  and  corn-field. 
The  apple  trees  were  heavy  with  the  yet  green  fruit,  and 
the  desire  to  fill  our  haversacks  was  too  strong  to  be 
resisted,  even  under  such  adverse  circumstances ;  so 
"  between  shots,"  we  shook  the  trees  to  bring  down  some 
of  the  apples.  We  found,  however,  that  shaking  the 
trees  brought  more  than  the  fruit  ;  it  told  the  enemy, 
who  were  posted  on  higher  ground,  just  where  we  were, 
and  their  bullets  rained  into  the  orchard,  severing  twigs 
and  bringing  down  as  many  apples  as  we  cared  to  pick 
up.  Several  of  our  men  were  hit  while  engaged  in  this 
occupation  ;  they  fell  as  did  Mother  Eve,  victims  of  their 
desire  for  forbidden  fruit.  When  the  opposite  side  of  the 
orchard  was  gained  we  noticed  the  enemy  in  force,  but  a 


218  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

short  distance  beyond,  in  the  woods,  and  our  line  halted. 
On  the  enemy  opening  fire,  the  left  of  the  line  fell  back, 
the  right  following,  and  when  the  open  ground  was 
regained  a  body  of  the  enemy  in  line  of  battle  were 
observed  advancing  from  the  cover  of  the  woods,  and  the 
skirmishers  continued  to  fall  back  before  them. 

During  these  movements  of  the  skirmish  line,  our 
troops  were  not  idle.  General  Stevens,  without  halting 
or  retarding  the  march  of  his  command,  deployed  them 
as  fast  as  they  came  up,  in  a  column  of  brigades  in  the 
edge  of  the  field  beyond  the  hollow.  The  Highlanders  were 
on  the  right  of  the  First  brigade  and  the  Twenty-Eighth 
Massachusetts  on  the  left ;  the  Eighth  Michigan  held  the 
right  of  the  Second,  while  the  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  were 
on  their  left ;  the  Forty-Sixth  New  York  occupied  the  right 
of  the  Third  brigade  with  the  One  Hundredth  Pennsyl 
vania  on  their  left.  While  this  formation  was  taking 
place,  the  advance  of  the  rebel  line,  above  noted,  was 
observed.  Benjamin's  battery  was  ordered  into  position 
a  little  to  the  front  and  right  of  the  division,  and  upon 
his  opening  fire  the  rebel  regiment  immediately  fell  back 
and  disappeared  in  the  woods.  The  skirmishers  were 
now  recalled. 

The  column  was  formed  in  the  edge  of  quite  a  large 
open  tract,  the  further  side  of  which  was  closed  by  the 
woods.  Woods,  too,  extended  on  the  right  side  all  along 
the  open  tract.  To  the  front  and  left  of  the  column  were 
the  house,  orchard  and  corn-field  already  mentioned. 

Captain  Stevens  says:  "The  formation  was  nearly 
completed  when  General  Reno  appeared.  General 
Stevens  pointed  out  the  position  of  the  enemy  ;  in  a 
few  strong  words  showed  the  necessity. of  hurling  back 
his  threatened  advance,  and  declared  his  intention  to 
attack  as  soon  as  his  column  was  formed.  General  Reno 
seemed  undecided  and  hesitating.  He  seemed  not  to 
approve  the  movement,  but  did  not  disapprove  in  words,. 


1 862.  PUSH  THE   CHARGE.  219 

or,  so  far  as  I  could  judge,  take  command  in  any  way, 
and  soon  turned  and  rode  back.  General  Stevens  now 
dismounted  and  directed  his  staff  to  dismount,  and  sent 
one  of  them  to  each  regiment  with  instructions  to 
advance  with  it,  and  push  the  charge  home.  Me  he 
sent  to  the  Seventy-Ninth  Highlanders.  Led  by  Morrison's 
brigade  the  column  now  moved,  descending  a  long  gentle 
slope,  crossed  a  slight  depression,  and  swept  steadily  up 
the  easy  ascent  beyond.  Not  a  sight  or  sound  from  the 
enemy  !  Nothing  visible  but  the  open  ground  extending 
two  hundred  yards  in  front,  and  closed  by  the  wall  of 
woods,  with  an  old  zig-zag  rail  fence  at  its  foot.  As  the 
column  swept  rapidly  and  steadily  onward,  I  was  march 
ing  side-by-side  with  Captain  Lusk,  in  the  line  of  file- 
closers  behind  his  company.  '  There  is  no  enemy  there  ! ' 
he  exclaimed,  '  They  have  fallen  back  !  We  shall  find 
nothing  there  ! ' 

''Even  as  he  spoke  the  enemy  opened  fire  from 
behind  the  rail  fence  at  the  edge  of  the  woods 
and  one  of  the  Highlanders  within  a  yard  of  us,  fell  to 
the  ground  squirming  like  a  stricken  worm.  The  next 
instant  I  struck  the  ground  with  great  force  and  sudden 
ness,  shot  in  the  hip  and  arm,  and  as  I  struggled  to  my 
feet,  and  tried  to  see  how  I  was  hit,  saw  the  regular  and 
even  battle  line  of  the  Highlanders  pressing  swiftly  on, 
and  leaving  me  far  behind.  The  next  instant  General 
Stevens  came  up,  asked  me  if  I  was  severely  hurt,  arid 
ordered  a  non-commissioned  officer  near  by  to  help  me 
off  the  field.  Unheeding  my  remonstrances  at  his 
exposing  himself  to  danger,  he  pushed  on  after  the 
first  line. 

"  The  enemy  was  now  pouring  in  a  terrific  fire,  and  the 
men  were  falling  fast.  General  Stevens  now  ordered 
Captain  Lusk  to  hasten  to  the  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania, 
which  was  hesitating  at  entering  the  corn-field,  and  to 
push  them  forward.  As  soon  as  Lusk  delivered  his  orders 


220  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

the  men  went  over  the  fence  and  pushed  on.  The  first 
line,  under  the  withering  hail  of  bullets,  was  wavering 
and  almost  at  a  stand.  Five  color-bearers  of  the  High 
landers  had  fallen  in  succession,  and  the  colors  again  fell 
to  the  ground.  General  Stevens  at  this  juncture  pushed 
to  the  front,  seized  the  fallen  flag  from  the  hands  of  the 
wounded  color-bearer,  unheeding  his  cry  :  '  For  God's 
sake,  General,  don't  take  the  colors  ;  they'll  shoot  you  if 
do  ! '  and  calling  aloud  upon  his  old  regiment :  '  High 
landers  !  My  Highlanders  !  Follow  your  general !'  rushed 
forward  with  the  uplifted  flag.  The  regiment  responded 
nobly,  and  the  Twenty-Eighth  Massachusetts  imitated 
their  example.  They  rushed  forward,  reached  the  edge 
of  the  woods  and  hurled  themselves  with  fury  upon  the 
fence,  and  dashed  it  to  the  ground,  while  the  enemy 
broke  and  fled  in  disorder. 

"  General  Stevens  fell  dead  in  the  moment  of  victory. 
A  bullet  entering  at  the  temple,  pierced  the  brain.  He 
still  firmly  grasped  the  flag-staff,  and  the  colors  had 
fallen  upon  his  head  and  shoulders. 

' '  The  enemy  were  in  heavy  force  on  the  left,  although 
driven  in  front,  and  the  contest  now  raged  with  great 
fury  over  the  corn-field.  A  sudden  and  severe  thunder 
storm  now  burst  over  the  field,  and  the  rain  fell  in  tor 
rents  ;  the  heavens  grew  dark,  the  thunder  rolled,  and 
vivid  flashes  of  lightning  illumined  the  woods.  The  din 
caused  by  our  batteries  and  musketry,  and  Heaven's 
artillery,  with  the  heavily  falling  rain,  combined  to  render 
the  scene  not  only  impressive,  but  awful. 

"  At  the  moment  of  ordering  the  fatal  charge,  General 
Stevens  sent  Lieutenant  Belcher,  his  aid,  back  to  the 
Warrenton  pike,  with  instructions  to  ask  support  and  to 
go  from  division  commander  to  division  commander  until 
he  obtained  it.  Belcher  did  so.  Several  general  officers, 
to  whom  he  applied,  declined  to  go  without  orders,  and 
finally  he  met  General  Kearney.  Scarcely  had  he  made 


!862-  GENERAL  KEARNEY.  221 

known  his  mission — and  its  urgency  was  startlingly 
emphasized  by  the  fierce  rolling  musketry  of  near  bat 
tle — when  Kearney  exclaimed  :  '  By  -  -  !  I  '11  support 
Stevens  anywhere  ! '  He  at  once  broke  the  head  of  his 
column  off  the  pike  and  led  them  across  the  fields  to  the 
sound  of  the  battle.  It  was  Birney's  brigade  of  his 
division  that  Kearney  so  promptly  brought  to  the  succor 
of  our  scanty,  struggling  troops.  They  went  in  at  the 
corn-field  in  front  of  the  Eeid  house,  where,  although  out 
numbered,  they  repulsed  successive  attacks  of  the  enemy 
and  held  their  ground.  Randolph's  battery  took  position 
in  the  field  to  the  right  and  rear  of  the  farm  house,  and 
rendered  efficient  service. 

"  The  little  brigade  of  Reno's  division — only  three  regi 
ments — meantime  advanced  in  line  through  the  woods, 
on  the  right  or  east  of  the  Ox  road,  and  quite  discon 
nected  with  and  separated  from  Stevens'  advance. 
There  they  struck  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy,  in  the 
midst  of  the  woods,  at  a  point  about  abreast  of  the  rebel 
position  just  carried  by  Stevens,  and  after  a  sharp  fight, 
in  which  they  suffered  severely,  were  repulsed.  The 
enemy,  however,  was  extremely  disconcerted  by  this 
movement  and  fell  into  much  confusion.  One  of  Reno's 
regiments,  the  Twenty-First  Massachusetts,  on  falling 
back,  emerged  from  the  woods  into  the  field  over  which 
Stevens  advanced,  where  General  Kearney  met  them  and 
ordered  them  to  move  across  to  the  left,  and  go  into  the 
corn-field  in  order  to  support  the  right  flank  of  Birney's 
brigade,  then  hotly  engaged." 

When  the  regiment  seemed  to  hesitate,  Kearney 
declared  he  would  turn  a  battery  on  them  if  they  did  not 
move  at  once,  and  dashed  off  towards  Randolph's  battery 
and  gave  its  commander  orders  to  that  effect.  Again 
the  General  galloped  to  the  front,  and  finding  the  Twenty- 
First  obeying  his  orders  he  rode  along  till  in  front  of  the 
Highlanders,  when  he  was  warned  by  Lieutenant  Clark 


222  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

that  the  enemy  were  ( '  but  a  f ew  yards  distant  in  our 
front."  "No,"  he  exclaimed;  "they  are  not  near 
here  ! "  and  rode  off  in  the  direction  of  the  corn-field, 
entirely  alone. 

What  immediately  followed  is  thus  described  by  General 
Longstreet,  in  his  article  "Our  March  Against  Pope,"  in 
the  Century  magazine  for  February,  1880  :  "Just  as  we 
(Jackson  and  Longstreet),  reached  there,  General  Kear 
ney,  a  Federal  officer,  came  along,  looking  for  his  line, 
which  had  gone.  It  was  raining  in  the  woods,  and  late 
in  the  day  ;  so  that  a  Federal  was  not  easily  distinguished 
from  a  Confederate.  Kearney  did  not  seem  to  know  that 
he  was  in  the  Confederate  line,  and  our  troops  did  not 
notice  that  he  was  a  Federal.  He  began  to  inquire  about 
some  command,  and  in  a  moment  or  so  the  troops  saw 
he  was  a  Federal  officer.  At  the  same  moment  he  real 
ized  where  he  was.  He  was  called  upon  to  surrender, 
but,  instead  of  doing  so,  he  wheeled  his  horse,  lay  flat  on 
the  animal's  neck,  clapped  spurs  into  his  sides  and  dashed 
off.  Instantly  a  half  dozen  shots  rang  out,  and  before 
he  had  gone  thirty  steps  poor  Kearney  fell. " 

This  was  just  such  a  move  as  he  made  at  about  the  same 
hour  on  Saturday  evening,  but  this  time  he  was  not  so 
fortunate.  Kearney,  the  brave,  dashing,  beau  ideal 
soldier,  fell  a  victim  to  his  own  rashness. 

Captain  Stevens  continues  :  ' '  The  suddenness  and 
determination  of  Stevens'  attack,  and  the  breaking  and 
driving  from  the  field  of  Hays'  brigade  of  Lawton's 
division,  and  Branch's  brigade  of  Hill's  Light  division, 
upon  which  it  fell,  strongly  impressed  Jackson  with  the 
belief  that  a  large  part  of  the  Union  army  was  advancing 
in  force  to  drive  him  back.  He  hastily  withdrew  all  his 
artillery  a  good  mile  from  the  battle-field,  and  planted  it 
along  a  commanding  ridge  south  of  the  Little  Kiver  pike, 
and  beyond  Stewart's  house,  as  a  second  line  upon  which  to 
rally  his  troops  in  case  of  need.  Consequently  none  of 


i862.  AN  UNEQUAL  CONTEST.  .  223 

his  artillery  took  part  in  the  battle.  Jackson  then  threw 
forward,  to  retrieve  the  day,  nearly  his  whole  infantry 
force — some  thirty-two  regiments.  Lawton's  Georgia 
brigade  and  Trimble's  brigade  were  sent  to  support  or 
replace  Branch's  and  Hays'  brigades  ;  those  of  Fender, 
Brockenbrough  and  Gregg  to  their  right— our  left— where 
they  disputed  with  Birney's  brigade  the  possession  of  the 
corn-field  ;  while  Early  and  Starke  occupied  the  woods 
east  of  the  Ox  road,  where  they  were  encountered  by  the 
brigade  of  Reno's  division,  as  already  narrated. 

"It  is  certain  that  had  Jackson  not  been  thrown  on 
the  defensive  by  the  fierce  attack  of  Stevens'  division,  or 
had  he  known  that  the  entire  Union  force  opposed  to  him 
numbered  only  fifteen  depleted,  scanty  regiments— less 
than  four  thousand  effectives— he  could  and  would,  in  an 
hour's  time,  have  driven  his  antagonists,  and  thrown  his 
forces  across  the  Warrenton  pike,  the  only  line  of  retreat. 
As  it  was,  our  brave  troops  held  substantially  the  ground 
they  had  so  gallantly  won,  until  darkness  and  the  storm 
put  an  end  to  the  unequal  contest." 

An  unequal  contest  it  certainly  was,  for  Longstreet's 
column  reached  the  battle-ground  just  as  Jackson's  troops 
were  falling  back  from  before  our  impetuous  charge. 
Longstreet  said  to  Jackson,  that  his  men  seemed  to  be 
pretty  well  dispersed ;  to  which  Jackson  replied  in  the 
affirmative,  but  added  that  he  hoped  it  would  prove  a 
victory.  Longstreet  advanced  his  own  troops  and  occu 
pied  a  line  somewhat  to  the  rear  of  that  to  which  Jack 
son's  men  had  been  driven,  and  held  it  during  the  night. 
Jackson's  men  were  withdrawn  to  the  rear  of  Longstreet's, 
in  order  to  rally  and  reorganize  their  dispersed  numbers. 

The  only  other  Union  troops  on  the  field,  besides  those 
mentioned  above,  during  or  after  the  engagement,  were 
the  brigades  of  Robinson  and  Berry  (the  latter  com 
manded  by  Colonel  0.  M.  Poe  of  the  Second  Michigan)  of 
Kearney's  division.  Robinson's  brigade  supported  Ran- 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

dolph's  battery  and  was  not  actively  engaged  and  suffered 
no  loss.  Colonel  Poe  sent  some  of  his  troops  to  relieve 
the  regiments  of  Birney's  brigade  on  the  skirmish  line, 
after  the  battle  was  over,  and  he  reported  some  slight  picket 
firing  as  occurring  after  dark.  After  driving  Hays'  and 
Branch's  brigades,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Morrison  sent 
word  to  General  Keno  that  the  enemy  had  been  driven 
back  and  that  General  Stevens  had  fallen.  Keno  returned 
orders  to  bury  General  Stevens  on  the  field  and  to  fall 
back.  But  the  Highlanders  held  the  position  gained  in 
the  woods  for  an  hour  or  more,  and  then  fell  back  to  the 
Reid  house,  which  was  used  as  a  hospital,  the  battle 
being  about  over.  Our  men  were  very  indignant  at 
Eeno's  orders  to  bury  the  body  of  our  beloved  General 
on  the  field.  Morrison  caused  it  to  be  carried  to  the 
rear  and  placed  in  an  ambulance,  from  which  a  wounded 
Highlander  gladly  and  self -devotedly  got  out  to  make 
room,  and  sent  the  sacred  remains  to  Washington.  They 
now  repose  in  Newport,  E.  I.,  beneath  a  chaste  and 
beautiful  monument  erected  by  the  city.  After  the  war, 
the  flag  which  he  died  to  save  was  thoughtfully  sent  to 
General  Stevens'  family,  by  Colonel  Morrison,  and  it  is 
held  by  them  as  a  most  sacred  relic. 

"  And  though  the  Warrior's  sun  has  set, 
Its  light  shall  linger  round  us  yet, 
Bright,  radiant,  blest." 

We  remained  on  the  battle-field  till  near  midnight,  and 
then  retired  to  a  point  from  where  we  first  discovered 
the  enemy,  and  kindled  rousing  big  fires  to  dry  our 
wet  clothing.  About  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  2nd,  we  were  ordered  to  renew  the  fires,  in  order 
to  make  the  enemy  believe  we  intended  spending  the 
night  there,  and  half  an  hour  after  we  took  up  our 
march  for  the  Warrenton  pike.  Our  route  was  cross 
country,  over  and  through  ditches  and  streams,  now 
swollen  by  the  recent  rains  ;  in  many  places  we  were 


1 862.  LOSS  AT  CHANTILLY.  225 

obliged  to  wade  knee-deep  through  the  water  ;  we  slipped 
and  floundered  as  best  we  could.  When  the  turnpike 
was  at  length  reached  we  found  it  filled  with  baggage  - 
wagons  and  artillery,  among  which  we  squeezed  our  way, 
and  at  daylight  found  ourselves  near  Fairfax  Court 
House,  where  we  halted  to  rest  and  get  a  cup  of  coffee. 
The  sun  came  out  bright  and  warm  and  our  clothing  was 
soon  dry.  About  noon  our  march  was  resumed  and  late 
in  the  afternoon  we  reached  Fort  Worth,  near  Alexan 
dria,  where  we  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

The  next  morning  at  roll-call,  it  was  fotmd  that  one 
field  officer,  seven  line  officers,  and  two  hundred  men 
were  present  for  duty.  The  loss  at  Chantilly  being  about 
forty  in  killed  and  wounded.  Major  Elliot  had  been 
severely  wounded  during  the  charge  on  the  enemy's  lines, 
and  Lieut. -Col.  Morrison  returned  from  the  command  of 
the  brigade  to  the  command  of  the  regiment.  We  remained 
in  our  bivouac  till  about  midnight  of  the  4th,  when  we 
were  routed  out  and  marched  over  the  Long  Bridge,  into 
and  through  Washington,  and  camped  near  our  old 
ground  of  August,  1861,  on  Meridian  Hill. 


15 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  September, 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    MARYLAND    CAMPAIGN.— BATTLES    OF    SOUTH    MOUNTAIN 
AND  ANTIETAM. 

GENERAL  MCCLELLAN  in  Command. — The  Reorganized  Army. — Recruits  for  the 
Highlanders. — On  the  March  Again. — In  "  God's  Country." — On  Picket. — 
March  Through  Frederick. — South  Mountain. — The  Highlanders  and 
Cook's  Battery. — Ordered  to  Storm  the  Heights. — Charge  of  the  Seven 
teenth  Michigan  and  Forty-Fifth  Pennsylvania. — Our  Position  in  the  Corn 
field. — Lieutenant  Clark  and  his  Sixty  Men. — After  Dark.— Death  of 
General  Reno.— Stampede  in  our  Rear. — What  General  Willcox  said. — A 
Night  on  the  Battlefield. — What  we  Saw  on  the  Morning  of  the  I5th. — 
The  Antietam. — Burnside's  Bridge. — How  it  was  Carried. — Highlanders  on 
the  Skirmish  Line. — Retreat  of  the  Enemy. — Reflections  on  McClellan. — 
Highlanders  in  Good  Spirits. 

the  arrival  of  our  army  at  Arlington  Heights  and 
Alexandria,  it  was  found  that  General  McClellan  had 
been  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  defences  of 
Washington  ;  subsequently  he  was  re-instated  in  the  com 
mand  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  now  composed  of 
his  own.  troops  from  the  Peninsula  and  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia,  Pope  having  been  relieved  at  his  own 
request,  and  sent  to  the  northwest.  McClellan,  with  his 
usual  ability  and  promptness  for  organization,  soon  had 
his  men  well  in  hand,  and  as  the  plans  of  the  enemy 
were  developed,  the  army  was  placed  in  positions  to 
meet  them. 

On  the  6th,  some  seventy  recruits  from  New  York 
joined  the  regiment,  and  a  few  stragglers  that  arrived 
during  our  short  stay  in  Washington,  brought  our  num- 


1862.  RANK  AND  FILE.  2^7 

bers  up  to  about  three  hundred,  rank  and  file.  After 
recovering  from  their  wounds  received  at  the  first  Bull 
Bun,  Captains  Laing  and  Shillinglaw  had  spent  most  of 
their  time  looking  after  the  recruiting  station  in  New 
York,  and  men  were  forwarded  from  time  to  time,  who 
served  to  partly  make  up  the  losses  sustained.  Besides 
those  who  had  been  killed  in  action,  or  discharged  by 
reason  of  wounds  received,  or  disease  contracted  while 
in  the  service,  our  numbers  on  paper  had  been  further 
reduced  by  those  absent,  sick,  in  hospital  or  at  their 
homes.  Thoughtful  friends  of  the  regiment  in  New- 
York,  had  appointed  a  committee  to  look  after  such,  and 
many  a  sick  comrade  ow^ed  his  recovery  and  life  to  their 
kind  ministrations. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  command  the  Fiftieth 
Pennsylvania  was  added  to  our  brigade,  and  Colonel 
Christ  placed  in  command,  while  General  0.  B.  Willcox 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  division,  in  place  of 
General  Stevens.  Lieutenant  Benjamin,  being  short  of 
men  to  handle  his  guns,  asked  for  a  detail  from  the  High 
landers,  which  was  granted.  As  soon  as  it  was  learned 
that  the  enemy  was  threatening  the  fords  of  the  upper 
Potomac  the  Union  army  was  put  in  motion.  General 
Banks  was  left  behind  to  take  care  of  Washington,  and 
at  noon  of  the  7th  the  march  began.  While  the  troops 
were  in  motion,  McClellan  organized  his  army  into  three 
grand  divisions  ;  the  First  corps,  General  Hooker,  and 
the  Ninth  corps,  General  Beiio,  constituted  the  Bight 
grand  division,  and  was  under  the  command  of  General 
Burnside  ;  the  Second  and  Twelfth  corps  formed  the  Cen 
ter,  under  General  Sumner,  and  the  Sixth  corps,  with 
Couch's  division,  and  Fifth  corps  formed  the  Left,  under 
General  Franklin.  The  total  force  with  which  McClellan 
started  on  the  campaign  was  about  85,000  men. 

We  were  in  "God's  Country"  now,  and  the  change 
from  Virginia  was  a  pleasant  one  ;  the  roads  were  good, 


228 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS. 


September, 


the  weather  fine,  and  the  men  cheerful.  Leesboro,  eight 
miles  from  our  starting  point,  was  reached  in  the  even 
ing,  and  there  we  halted  for  the  night,  remaining  also  the 
next  day.  On  the  morning  of  the  9th  we  were  off  again, 
reaching  a  point  near  Hyattstown,  early  in  the  evening. 


The  10th  was  spent  here  waiting  for  rations,  and  early  on 
the  morning  of  the  llth  our  march  was  resumed. 
Eumors  of  the  enemy  in  our  front,  slowly  retiring  before 
our  advance,  were  now  circulating  among  us,  and  as  the 
war  had  been  carried  into  the  loyal  States  we  did  not  doubt 
but  that  desperate  work  was  before  us. 

The  lately  victorious  enemy  now  felt  strong  enough  to 


1 862.  ' '  MY  MARYLAND. " 

fight  us  on  our  own  ground.  Pope  had  been  clearly  out 
generaled  in  Virginia,  and  the  Confederate  army,  flushed 
with  victory,  purposed  giving  "My  Maryland"  a  taste  of 
the  realities  of  war.  From  General  Lee's  report  of  his 
operations  during  the  campaign,  we  learn  that  he  not 
only  expected  large  accessions  to  his  own  army  from  the 
people  of  Maryland,  but  also,  that  their  attitude  towards 
the  government,  would  compel  us  to  retain  a  very  large 
portion  of  our  army  for  the  defence  of  the  Capital.  The 
recent  success  of  the  enemy  made  it  desirable  for  them  to 
continue  a  state  of  affairs,  which  would  at  least  keep  the 
Union  army  out  of  Virginia  till  winter  set  in,  and  thus 
give  the  Confederacy  a  chance  to  recuperate  before 
another  spring  campaign  should  open.  By  advancing 
into  western  Maryland,  Lee  hoped  to  draw  us  as  far  as 
possible  from  our  base  of  supplies,  while  his  position 
would  give  him  full  communication  with  Richmond  by 
way  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  the  most  fertile  region  in 
the  Confederacy.  The  enemy  crossed  the  Potomac  with 
out  opposition,  near  Leesburg,  between  the  4th  and  Yth 
of  the  month,  and  camped  in  the  vicinity  of  Frederick 
City. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  llth  we  reached  New 
Market,  within  six  miles  of  Frederick,  and  marching  a 
short  distance  beyond  bivouacked  for  the  night.  On  the 
evening  of  the  12th  the  regiment  was  sent  out  on  picket 
duty  011  the  Hagerstowii  road,  which  ran  some  distance 
north  of  Frederick,  and  on  returning  to  our  bivouac,  at 
four  o'clock  the  following  afternoon,  we  found  the  army 
had  moved  forward.  Being  out  of  rations  and  prohibited 
from  foraging,  we  were  obliged  to  follow  at  once.  We 
had  marched  a  long  distance  out  of  our  way  in  returning 
from  picket  duty,  and  when,  at  nightfall,  we  approached 
Frederick,  the  men  were  very  tired  and  hungry.  On 
entering  the  city,  however,  the  sight  which  greeted  our 
eyes,  drove  all  tired  and  hungry  feelings  from  our  minds. 


230  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

The  balconies  and  door-steps  of  many  of  the  houses  were 
filled  with  ladies  and  children,  dressed  in  white,  with  red 
and  bine  profusely  displayed,  waiting  to  receive  us.  A 
short  halt  just  before  entering  the  streets,  gave  the  line  a 
chance  to  close  up.  As  many  of  the  drummers  as  could 
be  caught  were  sent  to  the  head  of  the  column,  and  we 
were  soon  keeping  step  to  the  stirring  strains  of  mar 
tial  music.  It  was  an  inspiring  sight,  those  loyal  women, 
welcoming  us  with  bright  smiling  faces,  and  words  of 
kindly  greeting — we  were  not  tired  !  Passing  through 
the  city  we  bivouacked  for  the  night  a  short  distance 
beyond.  At  about  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
Mth  we  overtook  the  corps,  and  soon  reported  at  brigade 
headquarters. 

We  found  ourselves  near  the  village  of  Middletown, 
in  a  beautiful  valley,  the  western  boundary  of  which  was 
the  South  Mountain.  The  range  runs  almost  due  north 
and  south,  and  we  learned  that  the  enemy  was  strongly 
posted  on  the  summit  to  dispute  our  progress.  Artillery 
firing  could  be  distinctly  heard,  and  we -were  told  that 
General  Cox's  ' '  Kanawha  "  division,  attached  to  the  Ninth 
corps,  was  then  engaged,  and  that  we  were  to  follow  in  sup 
port.  On  approaching  the  foot  of  the  mountain  we  bore 
off  to  the  left  of  the  turnpike  and  Turner's  Gap  through 
which  the  turnpike  crosses  the  range,  and  followed 
the  old  Sharpsburg  road,  up  which  we  marched 
till  near  the  summit ;  this  road  crosses  the  moun 
tain  by  Fox  Gap.  We  then  branched  off  to  the 
left  where  the  road  runs  parallel  with  the  crest  for  a  mile 
or  more.  The  enemy's  guns  were  planted  on  the  heights 
above,  and  their  shot  and  shell  were  dropping  about  us  as 
we  marched  along  the  road. 

When  we  reached  the  point  where  the  road  turns 
sharp  to  the  right  to  cross  the  gap,  we  turned  into  it, 
and  with  Cook's  battery,  which  we  were  obliged  to  help 
up  the  steep,  rocky  hill-side,  obtained  a  position  near  a 


1 862. 


STOOD  IN  THE  WAY. 


farm  house  on  the  left  of  the  road,  about  midway 
between  the  parallel  road  and  summit.  We  kept 
well  under  cover  while  the  battery  fired  a  few  rounds, 
but  as  the  enemy  at  once  concentrated  all  his  available 
artillery  on  Cook,  he  was  obliged  to  retire.  Some  slight 
confusion  occurred  while  his  guns  were  being  withdrawn 


No.  10. 


FROM  OFFICIAL  MAP. 


and  two  of  the  pieces  were  left  between  the  lines,  seeing 
which  the  enemy  prepared  to  charge  down  the  hill  and 
capture  the  guns,  but  the  Highlanders  stood  in  the  way 
of  their  executing  such  a  laudable  purpose.  The  order 
was  at  once  given  for  us  to  "change  direction  by  the 


232  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

right  flank  ;  forward  ;  double  quick ! "  and  it  was  exe 
cuted  so  speedily,  that  when  the  enemy  saw  it  they 
halted.  This  movement  brought  us  in  position  behind  a 
stone  wall  from  which  it  would  have  been  difficult  for 
three  times  our  number  to  have  disloged  us,  and  there  we 
remained  for  a  short  time,  while  the  other  regiments 
were  being  placed  in  proper  positions.  The  guns  were 
afterwards  recovered.  Part  of  our  division  was  deployed 
on  the  right  of  the  road,  their  right  reaching  towards 
Turner's  Gap. 

Cox's  and  Sturgis'  divisions  had  already  driven  the 
enemy  from  the  positions  occupied  by  him  during  the 
early  part  of  the  action,  and  were  manfully  holding  their 
ground  on  our  left  ;  two  or  three  regiments  from  our 
division  were  sent  to  their  support,  and  just  as  they  were 
advancing  into  line  the  enemy's  guns  opened  a  furious 
fire  with  grape  and  short-fuse  case-shot,  to  escape  which 
we  all  lay  close  to  the  ground.  The  shot  rattled  over  the 
tops  of  the  stone  walls,  knocking  the  stones  about  and 
making  great  gaps  here  and  there  in  the  lines  of  the  mov 
ing  troops.  Before  the  army  could  advance  the  battery 
must  be  silenced.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Morrison  was  now 
ordered  to  storm  the  heights  with  the  Highlanders,  being 
informed  by  General  Willcox  that  such  were  the  orders 
direct  from  General  McClellau.  Drawing  his  sword, 
Morrison  ordered  us  to  "stand  up  and  prepare  to 
charge/'  On  seeing  the  line  General  Willcox  asked  : 
"  Is  this  your  regiment?"  "Yes,  General,  but  if  you 
will  give  me  more  men  we'll  take  the  battery,"  was  Mor 
rison's  reply.  "No,  I'll  send  another  regiment,  your's  is 
too  small."  The  Forty-Fifth  Pennsylvania  and  Seven 
teenth  Michigan  under  command  of  Colonel  Welsh,  of 
the  Forty- Fifth,  'were  ordered  to  the  charge,  the  High 
landers,  with  other  regiments  of  the  division,  following 
closely  in  support. 

The  Seventeenth  Michigan  was  a  new  regiment,  this 


f862.  MOVED  UP  THE  HILL-SIDE.  233 

was  their  first  engagement,  and  the  action  of  their  bri 
gade-commander,  General  Ferrero,  has  been  severely 
criticised  for  sending  them  in  on  so  delicate  and  import 
ant  a  task,  but  the  Michigan  troops,  wherever  engaged, 
displayed  a  bravery  that  was  seldom  equalled  and  never 
surpassed.  We  moved  up  the  hill-side  in  line  of  brigade 
front ;  the  two  leading  regiments  gained  the  crest, 
driving  the  enemy  from  his  strong  position,  his  guns 
being  withdrawn  in  time  to  save  them  from  capture.  It 
was  a  gallant  charge,  but  the  victory  was  dearly  won, 
the  Michiganders  losing  seventeen  killed  and  over  one 
hundred  wounded.  The  right  of  the  enemy's  line  was 
turned  when  our  men  carried  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and 
the  battle  was  virtually  at  an  end.  For  the  part  taken 
by  Colonel  Welsh  in  the  assault,  he  was  soon  afterwards 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General. 

When  ordered  to  halt,  the  Highlanders  found  them 
selves  in  a  corn-field,  just  a  little  below  the  crest  of  the 
hill  ;  the  enemy  had  not  been  driven  far,  and  were  now 
strongly  posted  behind  stone  walls  which  covered  the 
plateau.  In  order  to  escape  the  bullets  which  they 
showered  on  our  advanced  position,  we  lay  down,  some 
of  us  falling  asleep  while  the  bullets  were  cutting  the 
tops  of  the  corn-stalks  above  our  heads.  A  battery  to 
our  right  and  front  threw  occasional  shots  at  our  posi 
tion,  without,  however,  doing  any  apparent  damage  in 
our  ranks. 

While  occupying  this  line,  an  aid,  on  General  Willcox's 
staff,  crouching  as  near  to  the  ground  as  possible  in  order 
ttf  escape  the  deadly  shower  of  bullets,  approached  Colo 
nel  Morrison,  with  an  order  for  an  officer  and  sixty  men, 
to  cross  the  road  to  our  right  and  advance  through  the 
woods  as  near  as  possible  to  the  enemy,  for  the  purpose 
of  watching  his  movements,  and  if  possible  to  find  out 
the  exact  position  of  the  battery  that  was  still  annoying 
us.  Lieutenant  Clark  was  ordered  on  this  duty  ;  the  men 


"2M  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

crossed  the  road,  and  when  they  emerged  from  the  cover 
of  the  woods,  were  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  who  now 
directed  the  fire  of  their  guns  on  this  thin  line  ;  but  the 
men  lay  down  and  held  the  advanced  position,  while  a 
report  was  sent  to  General  Reno,  who  sent  back  word  to 
hold  the  position  at  all  hazards,  till  troops  could  be  sent  to 
strengthen  the  line.  The  enemy's  line  was  so  near  that 
every  word  of  command  could  be  heard  by  our  men,  and 
although  partly  protected  by  the  woods,  eight  of  the 
Highlanders  were  wounded  before  being  relieved  by  the 
Eighteenth  Ohio.  General  Reno  complimented  Lieuten 
ant  Clark  and  his  men  for  the  manner  in  which  they  had 
performed  this  important  duty.  It  was  after  dark  before 
they  were  relieved,  and  not  being  able  to  find  the  regi 
ment  till  daylight  next  morning,  the  report  was  circulated 
that  the  Lieutenant  and  nearly  the  whole  detachment  had 
been  killed.  A  Lieutenant  Clark  of  the  Seventeenth 
Michigan  had  been  killed,  but  during  the  excitement  we 
thought  it  was  ours,  and  when  the  brave  fellows  appeared 
they  received  a  hearty  welcome,  and  were  congratulated 
on  their  lucky  escape. 

Shortly  before  dark,  the  enemy,  heavily  reinforced, 
made  a  desperate  effort  to  retake  the  position  now  held  by 
our  troops.  The  Second  division  on  onr  right  bore  the 
brunt  of  this  assault,  but  gallantly  held  their  own,  and 
at  dusk  the  enemy  retired  behind  the  stone  walls,  from 
which  they  kept  up  a  desultory  fire  till  far  into  the  night. 
At  dark  the  regiment  was  moved  forward  beyond  the 
other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  and  line  formed  on  the 
ground  so  lately  occupied  by  the  Confederates.  Just  *as 
this  movement  was  completed  the  enemy  fired  a  volley  or 
two  at  our  line,  which  frightened  the  troops  in  our  rear 
more  than  it  injured  us,  for  two  or  three  of  the  regi 
ments  became  demoralized  and  fell  back  down  the  hill-side 
in  some  confusion.  General  Willcox,  fearing  that  the 
whole  line  had  fallen  back,  sent  an  aid  to  ascertain  the 


i862.  THE  FATAL  BULLET.  235 

extent  of  the  panic,  and  when  the  officer  found  us  quietly 
standing  in  line,  it  was  from  him  we  first  learned  of  what 
had  happened  in  our  rear.  The  next  morning  General 
Willcox  said  to  our  commanding  officer  :  ' '  Colonel,  I 
thank  you  for  the  gallantry  with  which  your  regiment 
did  its  duty  yesterday,  and  I  wish  you  would  tell  the  boys 
what  I  have  said." 

Just  a  few  minutes  before  our  lines  were  established  for 
the  night — in  fact,  while  he  was  on  the  ground  selecting 
positions  for  the  various  commands  —  our  corps-com 
mander,  Major- General  Jesse  L.  Reno,  was  mortally 
wounded,  and  died  shortly  after.  He  was  on  horseback, 
in  the  gap  road  near  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  only  a  few 
feet  distant  on  the  right  of  the  regiment,  when  the  fatal 
bullet,  fired  doubtless  by  a  sharp-shooter  from  behind  one 
of  the  numerous  stone  walls,  with  which  the  ground  in 
our  front  was  filled,  reached  him.  His  loss  was  deeply 
felt  by  us  all,  but  more  perhaps  by  his  old  brigade. 
General  Walcott  in  his  "History  of  the  Twenty-First 
Massachusetts  "  says  of  him  :  "  Our  true  and  loved  com 
mander  the  soldier  without  spot  or 
blemish." 

All  about  us  lay  the  dead  and  dying,  while  the  groans 
and  cries  of  the  wounded  sounded  in  our  ears  throughout 
the  long  hours  of  that  weary  night.  Those  in  our 
immediate  vicinity  were  relieved  to  the  extent  of  our 
ability,  but  we  were  obliged  to  keep  in  line  and  under 
arms  till  daylight,  and  dared  not  wander  far,  even  to  give 
a  drink  of  water  to  a  tenth  of  those  who  moaned  piteously 
for  it.  We  expected  that  Longstreet,  who  commanded 
the  enemy  in  our  front  would  attempt  to  recover  the  lost 
ground  during  the  night.  The  weather  was  cold  and  as 
we  stood  in  line  shivering  and  wishing  for  morning,  we 
conversed  in  low  tones  with  each  other,  congratulating 
ourselves  on  this  our  first  victory  in  the  new  campaign. 
Would  the  enemy  now  retrace  his  steps  into  Virginia  ? 


236  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

We  hoped  not,  but  that  he  would  remain  north  of  the 
Potomac  long  enough  for  us  to  annihilate  him,  horse, 
foot  and  artillery  ! 

Morning  of  the  15th  dawned  at  last,  and  on  such  a 
sight  as  none  of  us  ever  wished  to  look  upon  again. 
Behind  and  in  front  of  us,  hut  especially  in  the  angles  of 
the  stone  walls,  the  dead  bodies  of  the  enemy  lay  thick  ; 
near  the  gaps  in  the  fences  they  were  piled  on  top  of  each 
other  like  cord- wood  dumped  from  a  cart.  The  living 
had  retreated  during  the  night  and  none  but  the  dead  and 
severely  wounded  remained.  As  soon  as  the  retreat  of  the 
enemy  was  confirmed  at  other  points  along  the  line,  we  set 
about  getting  breakfast,  for  we  had  had  neither  dinner 
nor  supper  the  previous  day,  save  perhaps  a  dry  cracker  or 
two,  and  were  in  a  fit  condition  to  enjoy  a  cup  of  coffee, 
even  amidst  such  ghastly  surroundings.  Shortly  before 
noon  Sykes'  brigade  of  regulars  passed  us,  in  the  Four 
teenth  regiment  of  which  were  several  New  York  boys 
known  to  some  of  us.  They  said  they  had  not  been 
engaged  during  the  battle,  but  were  held  as  a  reserve, 
which  led  some  of  us  to  wish  that  we  were  regulars  too. 
About  noon  we  moved  off  the  field,  and  on  our  way  saw 
many  more  evidences  of  the  battle.  At  one  angle  of  the 
stone  walls  fourteen  bodies  of  the  enemy  were  counted 
lying  in  a  heap,  just  as  they  had  fallen,  apparently.  We 
referred  afterwards  to  that  spot  as  "Dead  Man's  Corner." 
A  curious  sight  presented  itself  in  the  body  of  a  rebel 
straddling  a  stone  wall ;  he  must  have  been  killed  while 
in  the  act  of  climbing  over,  for  with  a  leg  on  either  side, 
the  body  was  thrown  slightly  forward  stiff  in  death.  We 
were  glad  to  leave  these  scenes  behind  us. 

A  few  words  as  to  what  occurred  at  other  points  along 
our  line  :  Hooker  with  the  Sixth  Corps  carried  the  ene 
my's  position  at  Turner's  Gap,  with  slight  loss.  Some 
five  or  six  miles  to  our  left,  Franklin  had  forced  the  posi 
tion  at  Crampton's  Gap,  but  not  in  time  to  succor  the 


1862.  ANTIETAM  CREEK.  237 

garrison  at  Harper's  Ferry,  against  which  Stonewall 
Jackson  with  his  two  divisions,  and  McLaws  with  two 
divisions,  had  moved  on  the  10th.  Jackson  had  crossed 
the  Potomac  and  by  the  afternoon  of  the  14th,  while  we 
were  engaged  with  Longstreet,  had  completed  his  prepa 
rations  for  an  assault.  McLaws  had  gained  possession  of 
Maryland  Heights  on  the  afternoon  of  the  13th,  and  all 
being  ready  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  fire  was  opened 
on  the  Union  lines.  After  an  hour's  cannonading  the 
Confederate  fire  ceased,  and  the  infantry  prepared  to 
storm  the  works,  seeing  which,  General  White,  in  the 
absence  of  Colonel  Miles,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  sur 
rendered  11,000  men  and  over  TO  pieces  of  artillery. 

Our  march  was  continued  across  Pleasant  Valley  to 
within  a  mile  or  so  of  Antietam  creek.  The  enemy 
appeared  to  be  making  a  stand  on  the  opposite  bank  of 
that  stream,  and  occasionally  a  shot  or  two  from  some  of 
their  guns  yet  remaining  on  this  side  would  drop  about 
us,  but  without  doing  any  harm.  Nothing  of  importance 
occurred  during  the  afternoon  or  night. 

Tuesday  the  16th  was  occupied  in  moving  about, 
apparently  to  find  some  vantage  ground.  We  moved 
down  the  stream  and  at  night  occupied  a  position  on  the 
extreme  left  of  the  Union  line,  across  the  Eohersville 
and  Sharpsburg  turnpike,  near  a  stone  bridge  which 
spanned  the  stream,  and  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  who 
were  strongly  posted  on  the  opposite  bank. 

General  Burnside  had  been  ordered  to  hold  himself  in 
readiness  to  carry  the  bridge  by  assault  as  soon  as  the 
movements  on  the  right  of  the  line  would  warrant  the 
attempt.  Our  position  was  a  most  important  one,  and 
we  all  felt  duly  sensible  of  the  honor  conferred  on  the 
corps  by  General  McClellan.  During  the  night  a  heavy 
rain-storm  visited  us,  and  being  without  shelter  we 
received  a  good  drenching. 

Antietam  creek  at  this  point  is  deep,  with  few  fords, 


238  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

and  those  difficult  to  cross  ;  further  up,  the  banks  are 
high.  The  battle  was  confined  to  the  lower  part  of  the 
stream,  which  is  crossed  by  four  stone  bridges,  and  the 
third  from  the  right  was  the  famous  "  Burnside  Bridge." 
Lee's  troops  were  all  across  the  creek  in  a  commanding 
position,  his  left  resting  near  the  Potomac  while  his 
right  was  in  front  of  Sharpsburg,  with  a  strong  force 
thrown  forward  towards  the  bridge  in  our  front.  On 
the  morning  of  the  17th  the  disposition  of  the  Union 
f orces  was  as  follows  :  Hooker  was  on  the  extreme  right 
and  across  the  creek  ;  Sumner  joined  Hooker's  left  and 
was  on  the  same  side  ;  Franklin's  command,  or  a  large 
part  of  it,  was  in  rear  of  these  commands,  on  our  side  of 
the  stream,  and,  as  has  been  stated,  the  Ninth  corps, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Cox,  was  on 
the  extreme  left.  It  does  not  appear  why  General  Burn- 
side's  grand  division  was  thus  divided ;  he  followed 
the  Ninth  corps,  while  Hooker  fought  independently 
during  the  day.  Our  line  was  between  four  and  five 
miles  long,  and  the  whole  number  of  men  in  line  was 
in  the  neighborhood  of  87,000  ;  of  these  only  about  60,000 
were  engaged.  On  the  Confederate  side  there  were  over 
40,000,  and,  as  their  reports  say,  they  "had  no  reserves, 
— all  were  engaged. " 

Burnside,  in  his  report,  says  of  the  disposition  of  the 
Ninth  corps  :  "On  the  crest  of  the  hill,  immediately  in 
front  of  the  bridge,  was  Benjamin's  battery  of  six  twenty- 
pounders,  with  the  remaining  batteries  in  rear  of  the 
crest  under  partial  cover.  In  rear  of  Benjamin's  battery, 
on  the  extreme  right,  joining  on  to  General  Sykes'  divi 
sion,  was  General  Crook's  brigade,  with  General  Sturgis' 
division  in  the  rear.  On  the  left  and  rear  of  Benjamin's 
battery  was  General  Eobinson's  division,  with  Colonel 
Scammon's  brigade  in  support.  General  Willcox's  divi 
sion  was  held  in  reserve."  Longstreet's  veterans  were 
again  in  our  front,  and  we  doubted  not  but  that  they 


BATTLE  or  ANTIETAM,  Mo. 

-G^i  SEPT\  I7T-"    IBS 2 . 

HIGHLANDERS  ON  SKIRMISH  LINE: 
IN  FRONT  OF  WlLCOX'S  DIVISION 
ATS  RM 


OFFICIAL  MAP, 

1/2  3/jf 


1862.  THE    BRIDGE. 

would  endeavor  to  retaliate  for  their  defeat  at  South 
Mountain.  The  battle  began  on  our  extreme  right,  grad 
ually  drawing  towards  the  center.  Nothing  of  importance 
occurred  in  our  immediate  front  till  about  ten  o'clock, 
when  McClellan,  in  order  to  create  a  diversion  in  favor 
of  the  center  and  right,  sent  word  to  Burnside  to  carry 
the  bridge.  Crook's  brigade  of  the  Kanawha  division 
was  selected  for  the  work,  preceded  by  skirmishers  from 
the  Eleventh  Connecticut,  but  the  attempt  failed ;  then 
the  Sixth  New  Hampshire  and  Second  Maryland,  from 
Sturgis'  division,  was  sent  in,  and  they  likewise  were 
repulsed  .with  considerable  loss.  It  was  now  noon,  and 
McClellan  was  becoming  impatient ;  he  was  not  aware 
of  the  difficulties  of  the  situation.  The  bridge  was  very 
narrow,  scarcely  more  than  eight  feet  wide,  and  as  our 
men  approached,  the  narrow  space  was  filled  with  flying 
bullets,  which  piled  them  up  in  heaps.  But  the  bridge 
must  be  carried,  and  at  last  General  Ferrero's  brigade, 
consisting  of  the  Twenty-First  and  Thirty-Fifth  Massa 
chusetts  and  the  two  Fifty-Firsts,  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  were  ordered  in. 

From  the  ''History  of  the  Twenty-First  Massachu 
setts  "  we  copy  the  following  account  of  how  the  bridge 
was  won  :  f'  On  our  side  of  the  creek,  at  the  foot  of  the 
higher  land  from  which  we  descended  for  the  assault, 
open,  undulating  fields  stretched  on  both  sides  of  the 
road ;  the  other  bank  presented  a  steep  hill-side,  rising 
precipitously  from  the  water  on  the  left  of  the  road  (as 
we  "faced),  and  on  the  right,  cut  into  by  a  wooded  ravine  ; 
the  rebel  bank,  to  the  left  of  the  road,  was  also  covered 
with  thick  woods  near  the  water.  On  the  hill- side,  a 
few  yards  above  the  bridge,  there  was  a  heavy  stone 
wall  running  parallel  with  the  stream,  and  in  the  woods 
and  in  the  turns  of  the  road  as  it  wound  up  the  hill  were 
rifle-pits  and  breastworks  of  rails  and  stones,  all  making 
an  excellent  cover  for  the  rebel  riflemen  defending  the 
passage.  16 


^42  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

"Take  it  altogether  it  was  an  exceedingly  difficult 
place  to  carry  by  assault,  and  the  five  hundred  poor 
fellows,  dead  or  cruelly  wounded,  who  lay  in  front  of  it 
served  as  powerful  remonstrants  against  the  practicabil 
ity  of  the  attempt.  The  artillery  opened  with  canister 
to  cover  our  advance,  and  as  the  three  (four  ?)  regiments 
moved  down  upon  the  bridge  with  steady  ranks  and, 
taking  position  close  along  the  stream,  commenced  a 
rapid  fire  by  file  upon  the  rebel  cover.  Then 

came  the  order  to  charge  ;  the  response  was  worthy 
Reno's  old  brigade.  The  color-bearers  started  on  the  run 
for  the  bridge  (the  colors  of  the  two  Fifty-Firsts  side  by 
side,  and  a  hundred  yards  nearer  the  bridge  than  ours), 
and  the  three  (four?)  regiments,  with  a  fierce  shout, 
crowded  the  narrow  passage  ;  but  before  the  colors  of 
the  two  Fifty-Firsts  had  touched  the  disputed  bridge  the 
panic-stricken  rebels  left  their  cover  and  fled. " 

No  mention  being  made  in  the  above  extract  of  the 
Thirty -Fifth  Massachusetts,  which  took  part  in  the 
charge,  in  justice  to  that  regiment  an  extract  from  Gen 
eral  Ferrero's  report  is  here  given  :  "I  accordingly  moved 
forward  my  command,  and  carried  the  bridge  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet  at  one  o'clock,  losing,  in  doing  so,  a 
very  large  number  of  officers  and  men.  The  Fifty-First 
Pennsylvania,  Colonel  J.  F.  Hartranft,  led  the  charge, 
followed  by  the  Fifty-First  New  York,  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  R.  B.  Potter ;  the  Thirty-Fifth  Massachusetts,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Carruth  ;  and  the  Twenty-First  Massachu 
setts,  Colonel  W.  S.  Clark." 

Thus  the  bridge  was  won,  and  when,  the  Highlanders, 
at  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  passed  over  the 
ground,  it  was  littered  with  the  Union  dead.  Our  posi 
tion  with  the  reserve  division  had,  up  to  his  moment, 
kept  us  out  of  the  thick  of  the  fight,  but  now  that  the 
stream  was  crossed  we  expected  to  be  sent  in  on  the 
advance.  Filing  to  the  right  the  Highlanders  were 


i862.  FORWARD,    DOUBLE   QUICK  !  243 

formed  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  corps,  and  were  soon 
deployed  in  a  double  skirmish  line  along  the  bank,  and, 
at  the  command,  moved  forward  up  the  hillside  till  the 
level  ground  was  reached  ;  we  were  then  in  full  view  of 
the  enemy's  lines,  on  still  higher  ground  about  a  thou 
sand  yards  beyond.  As  soon  as  the  enemy  discovered 
our  line,  their  guns  opened  with  shell  ;  as  we  advanced 
and  came  within  short  range  of  their  guns  the  command 
' '  Forward,  double  quick  !  "  was  given,  and  the  line  gal 
lantly  advanced.  It  was  a  terrible  ordeal.  The  fire  of 
eighteen  guns  was  pouring  death  upon  our  ranks,  cutting 
the  men  down  at  every  discharge  ;  we  held  on  through 
the  storm  of  deadly  hail,  our  open  order  as  skirmishers 
favoring  us  more  than  the  troops  in  our  rear,  who  suf 
fered  in  a  greater  degree,  till  we  were  halted  about  three 
hundred  yards  from  the  enemy's  guns,  and  just  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  village  of  Sharpsburg. 

Owing  to  the  deadly  fire,  part  of  our  supporting  col 
umn  was  obliged  to  fall  back,  but  the  Second  U.  S.  Eeg- 
ulars  succeeded  in  joining  us  and  together  we  held  the 
line,  while  the  right  wing  of  the  Highlanders  advanced 
still  further,  and  did  some  execution  among  the  enemy's 
gunners.  About  this  time  Hawkins'  Zouaves  made  a 
gallant  charge  on  a  battery  on  our  left,  carrying  it  with 
heavy  loss.  We  maintained  our  position  here  till  we 
were  out  of  ammunition,  and  then  the  whole  line  was 
ordered  to  fall  back  to  the  creek,  where  we  were,  in  a 
measure,  sheltered  from  the  enemy's  fire.  By  this  time 
the  sun  had  set,  the  battle  was  virtually  over,  and  we 
remained  on  the  skirmish  line  all  night. 

The  next  morning  we  expected  to  renew  the  battle,  but 
all  remained  quiet  along  the  line,  except  for  the  exchange 
of  shots  between  the  picket  lines.  The  enemy  could  be 
distinctly  seen  occupying  the  position  they  held  late  the 
previous  afternoon,  and  we  wondered  why  McClellan  did 
not  at  once  press  forward  and  secure  the  fruits  of  the  vie- 


244  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

tory  won  the  day  before.  We  all  believed  that  a  decisive 
victory  was  within  our  grasp,  and  chafed  at  the  appar 
ently  uncalled-for  delay.  All  day  long  we  remained  in  a 
state  of  inactivity,  believing  that  the  enemy  was  employ 
ing  the  time  in  so  strengthening  his  position  that  it  would 
only  be  by  a  great  sacrifice  of  life  his  lines  could  be  forced. 
We  did  not  dream  that  Lee  would  be  allowed  to  escape. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  our  skirmish  line  was 
ordered  forward,  but  they  met  with  no  opposition  :  the 
enemy  had  retired  !  During  the  night  the  rebel  army 
had  quietly  withdrawn  to  the  south  side  of  the  Potomac, 
and  with  their  batteries  commanding  the  crossing  places, 
laughed  at  the  Union  army  !  No  little  disappointment 
and  chagrin  was  manifested,  that,  after  all  the  hardships 
we  had  undergone,  the  enemy  should  be  allowed  to 
retire  unmolested,  when  McClellan  had  thousands  of 
fresh  troops  who  had  not  been  engaged,  and  who  could 
undoubtedly  have  converted  the  indecisive  battle  of 
Antietam  into  a  great  Union  victory. 

When  roll  was  called,  the  loss  in  the  regiment  was 
found  to  be  about  forty,  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
Up  to  this  time  our  faith  in  McClellan  had  been 
unbounded  ;  no  regiment,  not  even  among  his  own 
Peninsula  soldiers,  had  stood  up  more  bravely  for  him, 
through  good  and  evil  report,  than  the  Highlanders. 
During  the  Peninsula  campaign,  while  others  were  laugh 
ing  at  the  "  Young  Napoleon"  and  ridiculing  his  Spade 
Movements  at  Yorktown  and  elsewhere,  we  kept  our 
faith  in  his  ability  as  an  able  General  and  true  patriot. 
We  would  have  much  preferred  him  to  Pope,  as  a  com 
mander  in  the  late  Virginia  campaign.  At  South  Moun 
tain  we  were  highly  honored  by  him,  when,  believing 
that  our  ranks  were  full,  he  had  requested,  or  ordered, 
that  we  should  storm  the  heights  and  capture  the  battery 
that  was  annoying  our  army.  He  evidently  thought  as 
favorably  of  us  as  we  did  of  him.  But  how  soon  does  a 


1 862.  WILLING  TO   ENDURE  MORE.  245 

single  act,    or  the  failure  to  perform  a  certain  duty, 
destroy  the  previous  good  record  of  the  best  and  bravest ! 

There  were  those  among  the  Highlanders  who  now 
felt  convinced  that  the  ability  of  McClellan  as  a  General 
had  been  greatly  overestimated — others  there  were  who 
believed  that  to  have  failed  to  take  advantage  of  the 
opportunity  just  offered,  of  destroying  the  enemy,  evi 
denced  disloyalty — while  a  still  larger  number  were  of 
the  opinion,  that  his  timidity  and  dread  of  losing  his  rep 
utation,  by  a  possible  reverse,  restrained  him  from  strik 
ing  the  blow,  which,  if  well  directed,  must  at  that  time 
have  crushed  his  enemy  or  driven  him  into  the  Potomac. 
The  reasons,  or  some  of  them,  which  he  gave  for  not 
renewing  the  battle  on  the  18th,  or  pursuing  the  enemy 
when  the  retreat  was  discovered,  were,  to  say  the  least, 
frivolous.  While  it  was  true  that  many  of  the  Union 
soldiers  were  poorly  clothed  ;  that  our  shoes  were  badly 
worn,  and  that  at  times  we  were  short  of  our  regular 
rations,  we  were  infinitely  better  provided  in  every 
respect  than  the  enemy.  It  was  also  true  that  we  were 
greatly  in  need  of  rest  ;  we  had  been  marching  and  fight 
ing  for  over  a  month,  and  inside  of  twenty  days  had 
fought  five  great  battles,  but  we  would  have  been  willing 
to  endure  more — to  have  gone  naked  and  hungry  for  a 
while — if  by  that  sacrifice  we  could  have  had  the  satis 
faction  of  experiencing  the  results  of  a  rousing  Union 
victory. 

With  soldiers,  to  a  greater  extent  perhaps  than  with 
those  engaged  in  any  other  calling,  success  is  the  great 
desideratum  ;  give  the  soldier,  whose  heart  is  in  his  cause, 
success  in  arms,  and  he  will  not  grumble  because  his 
shoes  are  worn  out  or  his  wardrobe  scant.  Although 
reduced  in  numbers  and  our  clothing  much  worn  by  our 
rough  campaigning,  the  Highlanders  were  in  excellent 
condition. 


246  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  October, 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

AFTER  ANTIETAM.— TO  FREDERICKSBURGH. 

EFFECTIVE  Strength  of  the  Highlanders. — Visit  of  President  Lincoln. — Stuart's 
Raid. — Promotions. — General  McClellan. — ''The  Old  War  Horse"  elected 
Major. — Into  Virginia  Again. — Recruits  Wanted  for  the  Regular  Army. — 
Visit  of  New  York  Politicians. — Result  of  the  Ballot. — Waterloo. — Burnside 
Supersedes  McClellan.-  "Hungry  Hill."— "  Has  Anybody  Killed  the  Dog?" 
Bealton,  Battle  for  the  Rails. — Arrival  at  Fredericksburgh. — The  Pontons. — 
Burnside  Decides  to  Attack. 

T  ATE  in  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  the  regiment  moved 
•"  down  near  the  Potomac  and  went  into  bivouac  close 
by  a  piece  of  woods.  On  the  20th  our  camp  ground  was 
laid  out  and  a  detail  made  for  picket  duty  along  the  river 
bank  ;  more  or  less  firing  occurred  during  the  night,  and 
it  was  evident  that  the  enemy  was  resting  securely  in  his 
position  and  would  not  move  till  he  "got  good  and 
ready." 

We  remained  here  for  a  few  days,  being  turned  out 
occasionally  when  the  pickets  became  excited  and  made 
more  than  the  usual  noise.  On  the  24th  we  moved  back 
to  Antietam  creek  and  camped  near  the  other  regiments 
of  the  brigade,  and  at  noon  of  the  26th  struck  tents  and 
marched  to  the  Antietam  Iron  Works.  On  the  30th  a 
number  of  recruits  and  some  old  members  who  had 
returned  from  sick-leave  joined  us,  and  the  next  morn 
ing  reports  showed  three  hundred  of  all  grades  present 
for  duty. 

We  now  settled  down  to  the  ordinary  hum -drum 
duties  of  camp  life,  enlivened  occasionally  by  reviews. 
On  the  3d  of  October  the  army  was  visited  by  President 


1 862.  PRESENT  FOR  DUTY.  247 

Lincoln,  who,  on  passing  our  division  in  review,  was 
accompanied  by  General  Burnside  and  staff.  On  the  5th 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Morrison  issued  a  general  order,  com 
plimenting  the  regiment  on  the  heroism  it  had  displayed 
during  the  late  campaigns,  and  also  on  the  negative 
quality  of  subordination  and  strict  obedience  to  orders. 

On  the  7th  General  J.  D.  Cox,  who  had  been  in  com 
mand  of  the  corps  since  the  death  of  General  Reno,  was 
ordered  back  to  West  Virginia  with  his  Kanawha  divi 
sion,  and  General  Willcox  took  his  place.  On  this  day, 
too,  the  corps  moved  to  Pleasant  Valley,  nearly  opposite 
Harpers  Ferry. 

On  the  9th  the  rebel  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  began  his 
famous  raid  around  the  Union  Army,  and  on  the  llth 
we  were  suddenly  called  upon  to. start  in  light  marching 
order.  We  proceeded  to  Weverton,  on  the  B.  &  0.  R.  R., 
near  the  Potomac,  and  just  at  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  valley.  On  Sunday,  the  12th,  the  brigade  went  by 
rail  to  Frederick,  and  occupied  a  position  near  the  Balti 
more  turnpike,  where  we  remained  till  9  A.  M.  of  the 
loth,  w^hen  we  struck  tents,  and,  marching  through  the 
city,  went  as  far  as  Jefferson,  where  we  bivouacked  for 
the  night.  At  four  o'clock  the  next  morning  we  were 
up,  and  after  breakfast  resumed  our  march,  reaching  our 
camp  at  Pleasant  Valley  by  noon.  We  had  a  pleasant 
excursion,  thanks  to  Stuart,  who  kept  a  sufficient  dis 
tance  aw^ay  from  the  infantry  sent  out  to  guard  the 
various  points  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  rebel  troopers  no 
doubt  had  a  pleasant  time,  too,  for  they  got  safe  back 
into  Virginia  after  making  a  complete  circuit  of  the 
Union  army. 

At  dress  parade  on  the  evening  of  the  16th,  a  long  list 
of  promotions,  both  in  commissioned  officers  and  ' '  non- 
coms.,"  was  read,  all  of  which  seemed  to  give  general 
satisfaction.  At  this  time  the  Adjutant's  report  showed  : 
present  for  duty,  sixteen  officers  and  three  hundred  and 


24S  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  October, 

twenty-four  men  ;  in  hospital,  all  grades,  two  hundred 
and  eleven  ;  prisoners  of  war,  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight  ;  total,  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine.  From  this 
it  will  be  seen  that  when  a  regiment  is  in  active  service 
its  strength  on  paper  is  very  deceptive. 

The  press  throughout  the  country  had,  long  ere  this, 
begun  to  wonder  why  the  army  did  not  move  ;  those 
papers  which  supported  McClellan,  ever  ready  to  furnish 
excuses  for  him,  readily  seized  upon  anything  which 
might  serve  as  an  excuse  for  inactivity,  and  Colonel 
Morrison  had  unwittingly  given  them  a  crumb  of  com 
fort  in  his  order  of  the  5th,  in  which,  referring  to  our 
condition,  he  made  use  of  the  expression:  "Many  of 
you  without  shoes,  and  all  poorly  clothed."  Some  of 
the  New  York  papers  which  we  received  about  this  time 
contained  the  order  in  full,  and  it  was  cited  by  them  as 
proof  that  the  army  was  in  no  condition  to  take  the 
offensive  —  but  enough  has  been  said  on  this  point 
already. 

While  lying  here  an  incident  occurred  which  showed, 
somewhat,  the  generous  feeling  that  existed  between  the 
officers  of  the  regiment.  Major  Elliot,  who  had  been 
wounded  at  Chantilly,  had  resigned,  and,  through  friends 
in  New  York,  Captain  Lusk  had  been  commissioned 
major  to  fill  the  vacancy.  On  announcing  the  fact  to 
Lieutenant -Colonel  Morrison,  the  captain  further  said 
that  if  the  appointment  was  not  perfectly  satisfactory  to 
him  he  should  decline  the  commission.  Inasmuch  as 
Captain  Lusk,  while  a  genial  gentleman  and  good  officer, 
was  not  the  senior  captain,  the  colonel  knew  that  the 
appointment,  if  confirmed,  would  work  serious  harm, 
and  so  told  the  captain,  who  at  once  declined  the  major 
ity  and  remained  with  his  company.  The  officers  now 
met  and  unanimously  recommended  Captain  John  More 
to  the  vacancy.  The  "  Old  War  Horse  "  was  still  in  New 
York,  slowly  recovering  from  the  wounds  he  had  re- 


1 862.  POSITION  OF  MAJOR.  249 

cieved  at  Bull  Run  on  the  30th  of  August,  and,  that  all 
may  know  in  what  esteem  he  was  held  hy  his  brother 
officers,  the  petition  which  secured  his  commission  is 
here  given  : 

•"To  the  Lieutenant- Colonel  commanding  Seventy -Ninth 
N.  Y.  Vols.  : 

"Sm  —  Having  been  informed  that  the  position  of 
major  is  about  to  become  vacant,  and  being  desirous  of 
having  the  position  filled  by  a  capable  and  worthy  man, 
one  in  whose  judgment  and  bravery  we  can  place  impli 
cit  confidence,  it  is  therefore  with  pleasure  that  we 
recommend  for  your  endorsement  our  senior  captain, 
John  More,  of  Company  D.,  one  who  on  every  battle 
field  since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  in  which  the 
regiment  has  been  engaged,  has  shown  those  qualities, 
viz.  :  coolness,  judgment  and  bravery,  befitting  him  for 
the  position  of  major,  and  one  who  enjoys  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  whole  regiment. 

"  Hoping  this  will  meet  with  your  approbation  and  be 
forwarded  to  the  proper  authorities,  we  remain, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servants. 
(Signed  by  all  the  officers  of  the  regiment.) 

"Approved  and  respectfully  submitted  to  His  Excel 
lency,  Governor  Morgan,  State  of  New  York. 

D.  MORRISOX, 
Lieut. -Col.  Commanding  79th  N.  Y.  Vols." 

Early  in  October  the  country  became  impatient  at  the 
inactivity  of  the  army,  and  on  the  13th  President  Lincoln 
was  moved  to  write  to  McClellan,  stating  his  reasons  why 
he  thought  active  operations  should  be  resumed,  but  giv 
ing  no  special  orders  to  that  effect.  It  was  not  till  the 
26th,  however,  that  the  army  was  put  in  motion.  At 
daylight  tents  were  struck,  and  soon  after,  the  Highland 
ers,  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  marched  to  Berlin,  where 
the  river  was  crossed  on  a  ponton  bridge.  We  followed 


250  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  Novemberr 

Pleasanton's  cavalry  into  Virginia,  as  the  advance  guard 
of  the  Union  army.  The  main,  body  of  the  enemy  was 
lying  in  the  vicinity  of  Winchester  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley.  We  marched  as  far  as  Lovetsville  (see  map  No. 
9),  and  bivouacked  in  the  woods.  It  had  been  raining 
nearly  all  day  and  we  were  thoroughly  drenched.  The 
mud,  as  usual,  clung  to  our  shoes — it  seemed  natural. 
The  Ninth  corps  remained  at  Lovetsville  until  the  rest 
of  the  army  had  crossed  the  river  and  arrived  at  the 
positions  assigned  them. 

A  few  days  before  leaving  camp  an  order  had  been 
issued  from  the  headquarters  of  the  army,  calling  for 
recruits  from  the  volunteer  regiments  to  join  the  regular 
army  ;  but  it  met  with  little  response  from  the  High 
landers,  only  three  or  four  of  the  regiment  leaving  to 
join  Benjamin's  Battery.  We  loved  our  own  organiza 
tion  and  were  jealous  of  its  reputation,  and  while  we 
were  not  all  Highlanders  by  birth,  all  were  proud  of  our 
" nom  de  guerre."  We  received  a  visit  from  some  New 
York  politicians  at  this  time,  among  whom  was  ' '  Big 
Judge  "  Connolly.  The  vote  in  the  regiment  on  the  4th 
of  the  following  month  for  Governor  of  New  Yorkr 
proved  that  their  visit  was  not  without  effect. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  we  marched  to  Waterf ord, 
where  we  remained  till  Sunday,  November  the  2d  ;  then 
we  packed  up  again  and  marched  to  Harmony  Churchr 
where  we  halted  for  dinner ;  then  to  Philemont  village, 
where  we  stopped  for  the  night.  The  various  gaps  in  the 
Blue  Eidge  mountains  were  occupied  as  we  advanced, 
and  our  cavalry  had  frequent  skirmishes  with  the  enemy. 
On  the  3d,  at  about  noon,  we  resumed  our  march,  and  at 
night  camped  on  the  farm  of  the  widow  Fletcher,  near 
Upperville.  The  next  day  was  4 "lection,"  the  ballot  in 
the  regiment  resulting  in  a  majority  of  fifty -two  for  Sey 
mour,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor. 

On  the  5th  we  reached  Rectortown  (see  map  No.  6),  on 


1 862.  SNOW  BEGAN  TO   FALL.  251 

the  Manassas  Gap  railroad,  and  at  eight  o'clock  the  fol 
lowing  morning  the  march  was  resumed,  Orleans  being- 
reached  late  at  night.  The  weather  was  cold  and  a  storm 
threatening.  Snow  began  to  fall  on  the  morning  of  the 
7th,  and  at  noon,  when  the  bugles  sounded  the  assembly, 
it  had  not  ceased  ;  but  we  struck  tents  and  marched  to 
Waterloo,  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Kappahannock.  We 
had  been  short  of  rations  now  for  three  days,  and  the 
farther  we  advanced  the  poorer  grew  the  foraging.  We 
were  approaching  the  section  over  which  we  had  marched 
and  countermarched  during  the  summer,  and  the  country 
had  not  yet  had  time  to  recuperate.  Spring  chickens  and 
roasting  pigs  were  not  like  the  widow's  cruse  of  oil.  On 
the  morning  of  the  8th  we  were  surprised  to  learn  that 
General  McClellan  had  been  superseded  in  the  command 
of  the  army  by  General  Burnside.  We  believed  that 
there  was  no  truer  patriot  in  the  service  than  Burnside. 
We  thought  well  of  his  ability,  and  determined  to  do  all 
that  lay  in  our  power  towards  making  the  campaign  a 
success,  and  hoped  that  our  favorite  General  would  ere 
long  give  us  a  victory. 

On  Saturday,  the  9th,  we  were  still  in  camp.  General 
McClellan  had  turned  over  the  command  to  General 
Burnside,  and  at  dress  parade  in  the  evening  the  follow 
ing  order  was  read  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

WARRENTON,  Va.,  Nov.  9th,  1862. 
"  GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  1 : 

"  In  accordance  with  General  Orders  No.  182,  issued  by 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  I  hereby  assume  com 
mand  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

"  Patriotism  and  the  exercise  of  my  every  energy  in  the 
direction  of  this  army,  aided  by  the  full  and  hearty  co 
operation  of  its  officers  and  men,  will,  I  hope,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  insure  its  success. 


252  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

* '  Having  been  a  sharer  of  the  privations  and  a  witness 
of  the  bravery  of  the  old  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the 
Maryland  campaign,  and  fully  identified  in  their  feelings 
of  respect  and  esteem  for  General  McClellan,  entertained 
through  a  long  and  friendly  association  with  him,  I  feel 
that  it  is  not  as  a  stranger  that  I  assume  this  command. 

16  To  the  Ninth  corps,  so  long  and  intimately  associated 
with  me,  I  need  say  nothing  ;  our  histories  are  identical. 

"With  diffidence  for  myself,  but  with  a  proud  confi 
dence  in  the  unswerving  loyalty  and  determination  of  the 
gallant  army  now  intrusted  to  my  care,  I  accept  its  con 
trol  with  the  steadfast  assurance  that  the  just  cause 
must  prevail. 

A.  E.  BURNSIDE, 

Major-General  Commanding. " 

The  enemy  seemed  to  be  particularly  active  in  our  rear 
at  this  time.  Reports  were  constantly  circulating  to  the 
effect  that  "Jackson"  was  after  our  supply  trains — he 
certainly  got  closer  to  them  than  we  did — and,  inasmuch 
as  our  present  camp  had  been  dubbed  "Hungry  Hill,"  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  matter  of  supplies  was  a  vital  one 
to  us.  The  strictest  orders  had  been  issued  that  the 
country  through  which  the  army  passed  should  be  "pro 
tected."  No  plundering  was  allowed.  But  it  was  a  hard 
matter  to  restrain  hungry  men  from  occasionally  helping 
themselves  to  any  good  thing  that  came  in  their  way. 
Obedience  to  orders  was  generally  measured  by  the 
temptation  to  disobey. 

One  day,  Colonel  Morrison,  calling  his  orderly,  asked  : 
"  What 's  that  I  smell  cooking  ?  Has  anybody  killed  the 
dog?"  "Oh,  no,  sir;  it's  mutton  broth."  "Mutton 
broth  !  How  's  that  ?  Have  the  men  been  robbing  any 
of  the  farmers  ?"  "No,  sir  ;  our  men  would  n't  do  that." 
"  Then  where  did  the  mutton  come  from  ?"  "  Well,  sir, 
this  morning,  about  daybreak,  two  of  the  Seventeenth 
Michigan  were  seen  carrying  a  sheep  towards  camp. 


1 862.  HUNGRY   HILL.  253 

They  seemed,  sir,  to  have  brought  it  some  distance.  Two 
or  three  of  our  boys  slipped  on  their  belts,  and,  taking 
their  muskets,  started  for  the  Michiganders,  who,  sup 
posing  they  w^ere  about  to  be  arrested  by  a  detail  of  the 
provost  guard,  dropped  the  sheep  and  ran.  Of  course, 
sir,  the  boys  could  n't  think  of  leaving  the  carcass  there, 
and — and — we  're  to  have  a  mess  of  mutton  broth  for 
dinner." 

On  the  12th  the  brigade  was  suddenly  called  into  line 
and  hurriedly  marched  back  towards  Orleans,  where  line 
of  battle  was  formed  and  the  Highlanders  deployed  on 
the  skirmish  line.  It  was  said  that  a  force  of  the  enemy 
had  got  into  our  rear  and  our  wagon  trains  were  in  dan 
ger.  We  remained  till  dark,  but  saw  neither  wagon 
trains  nor  enemy.  We  had  not  received  any  rations  of 
bread  the  day  before,  but,  fortunately  for  us,  we  "  found  " 
a  number  of  sheep  and  some  pigs,  which  we  confiscated, 
without  the  slightest  qualms  of  conscience  or  fear  of  the 
standing  order  against  pillaging.  We  returned  to  our 
camp  at  "Hungry  Hill"  in  the  evening  and  feasted 
royally. 

On  the  14th  we  laid  out  our  camp  ground,  but  the  work 
was  probably  encouraged  by  the  general  officers,  more  to 
keep  the  men  employed  than  because  of  any  likelihood 
of  our  remaining. long  in  the  place,  for,  on  the  following 
day,  we  packed  up  and  marched  down  the  river  to  White 
Sulphur  Springs,  where  we  lay  for  the  night  in  support 
of  a  battery.  The  enemy  seemed  to  be  gathering  in  force 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  an  engagement 
appeared  imminent.  At  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
Sunday  the  16th,  we  were  turned  out  and  formed  into 
line,  remaining  so  till  daylight,  when  arms  were  stacked. 
At  one  P.  M.  we  marched  in  the  direction  of  Warren- 
ton  Junction.  Heavy  firing  was  heard  at  intervals 
during  the  march.  On  our  arrival  at  the  Junction,  the 
First  division  was  reorganized,  and  our  brigade,  the  First, 


254  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

consisted  of  the  Second,  Eighth,  Eighteenth  and  Twen 
tieth  Michigan,  and  the  Seventy-Ninth  New  York,  under 
command  of  Brigadier- General  0.  M.  Poe,  late  Colonel 
of  the  Second  Michigan.  The  Highlanders  still  held  the 
right  of  line.  General  W.  W.  Burns  was  in  command 
of  the  division. 

About  one  P.  M.  of  the  17th,  we  resumed  our  march 
in  a  south -westerly  direction,  making  about  ten  miles 
and  halting  near  Bealton.  When  we  reached  our  bivouac 
we  found  that  the  Second  Michigan,  who  had  the  right 
of  the  line  of  march,  had  not  only  appropriated  all  the 
fence  rails  in  their  immediate  front,  but  that  they  had 
also  taken  those  in  front  of  where  we  were  halted,  and 
had  placed  them  in  piles,  under  guard,  with  a  view  of 
carrying  them  to  their  own  front,  after  securing  those 
nearer  to  them.  Captain  Armour  thus  relates  his  recol 
lections  of  what  happened  :  ' '  Colonel  Morrison,  then, 
as  always,  on  the  alert,  appeared  to  take  in  at  a  glance 
the  condition  of  affairs,  and  instead  of  dressing  the  line 
as  was  his  custom,  simply  gave  in  quick  succession  the 
commands  :  '  Halt  !  Front  !  Stack  arms  !  Rest  ! '  The 
three  first  orders  were  promptly  obeyed  but  the  last 
one  was  not.  The  Colonel  seemed  to  be  in  more  of  a 
hurry  than  usual,  which  was  noticed  by  both  officers  and 
men.  All  seemed  impressed  with  the  fact  that  prompt 
ness  was  necessary,  or  the  western  boys  would  have  not 
merely  the  best,  but  the  only  fires  that  evening.  It  was 
not  in  the  nature  of  the  senior  regiment  of  the  Ninth 
corps  to  submit  to  that.  It  was  just  dusk,  and  I  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  unless  interfered  with  by  their 
officers,  our  boys  would  possess  themselves  of  at  least  all 
the  rails  in  our  immediate  front — and  to  which  they  were 
justly  entitled. 

"Not  wishing  to  be  in  the  way,  we  withdrew  a  short 
distance  to  watch  the'  fun.  Our  boys  in  numerous 
groups  discussed  the  matter  for  a  few  minutes,  and 


i862.  MARYE'S  HEIGHTS.  255 

promptly  decided  that  the  rails  should  not  be  removed 
except  by  themselves.  Their  decision  was  soon  commu 
nicated  to  the  men  of  the  Second,  and  their  sense  of  jus 
tice  appealed  to,  but  they  refused  to  surrender  the  rails. 
By  this  time  they  were  heavily  re-inf orced  and  the  battle 
began.  As  the  scene  of  the  strife  was  changed  from  one 
pile  of  rails  to  another,  there  was  some  lively  hitting 
indulged  in  by  both  sides.  No  fire-arms  were  used,  the 
"  manly  art v  alone  being  resorted  to.  Occasionally  some 
more  daring  ones  of  the  Second  would  succeed  in  shoul 
dering  a  few  rails,  but  they  were  set  upon  and  despoiled 
of  their  loads.  At  length,  owing  to  the  superior  strength 
of  their  antagonists,  and  perhaps  realizing  that  they  were 
not  in  equity  entitled  to  the  rails,  the  men  of  the  Second 
withdrew  and  peace  was  restored/' 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  we  were 
turned  out,  and  following  the  line  down  the  Rappahan- 
iiock,  marched  about  twelve  miles. 

The  Second  and  Ninth  corps  were  now  formed  into  the 
Right  grand  division  of  the  army,  under  Major-General 
Sumner.  On  the  -19th,  shortly  after  noon,  we  reached 
Falmouth.  The  advance  of  our  grand  division  had 
reached  there  on  the  17th,  and  had  indulged  in  a  little 
artillery  firing  across  the  river  with  the  enemy's  advance. 
Sumner  proposed  crossing  at  once,  as  Fredericksburgh, 
even  when  we  arrived,  was  occupied  only  by  a  small 
force  of  the  enemy,  but  Burnside  wished  first  to  bring 
his  whole  army  into  position  before  crossing  any  part  of 
his  troops.  Shortly  after  our  arrival,  large  bodies  of  the 
enemy  could  be  seen  occupying  the  high  ground  back  of 
the  city,  and  it  was  evident  that  our  passage  of  the 
s  stream  would  be  attended  with  strong  opposition. 

We  supposed,  of  course,  that  Richmond  was  our  objec 
tive  point,  and  we  knew  that  whatever  route  was  taken 
would  be  hotly  contested.  We  could  see  the  enemy 
busily  engaged  erecting  earth-works  on  Marye's  Heights, 


256  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November,. 

the  location  of  our  camp  ground  in  early  August,  and 
they  no  doubt  would  give  us  a  warm  reception.  We 
wondered  that  there  should  be  any  delay  in  crossing  the 
Union  army  ;  surely  something  was  wrong.  The  bridges 
had  been  destroyed,  but  we  expected  that  ponton  trains 
would  be  on  the  ground  on  our  arrival,  but  none  were 
on  hand  and  many  days  were  wasted  by  us  and  improved 
by  the  enemy. 

When  Burnside  reached  Falmouth,  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  19th,  he  was  much  surprised  and  disappointed  not 
to  find  the  pontons  there.  On  the  22nd,  while  still 
awaiting  their  arrival,  Burnside  called  General  Halleck's 
attention  to  the  fact  that  the  plan  of  the  campaign,  sub 
mitted  by  the  former  at  the  request  of  the  latter,  and 
which  had  been  approved,  called  for  'the  arrival  of  pon 
tons  at  Fredericksburgh  simultaneously  with  the  advance 
of  the  army,  and  which  Halleck  had  promised  to  push 
forward  as  soon  as  he  returned  to  Washington.  In  reply 
Halleck  claimed  to  have  done  all  that  he  had  agreed  to, 
and  had  ordered  General  'Woodbury,  with  the  engineer 
corps  and  pontons  to  Acquia  Creek,  and  there  to  report 
to  General  Burnside.  It  is  unnecessary  to  review  the 
causes  which  led  to  the  delay  ;  suffice  it  to  say  that  the 
usual  amount  of  red  tape  at  Washington,  and  the  shift 
ing  of  responsibility  from  one  officer  to  another,  accounted 
for  the  non-arrival  of  the  pontons  till  the  afternoon  of 
the  25th. 

By  this  time  stormy  weather  had  set  in,  and  combined 
with  floating  ice  in  the  river  to  render  the  throwing 
of  bridges  hazardous.  Burnside  even  considered  the 
advisability  of  putting  his  army  into  winter  quarters, 
but  the  idea  was  soon  abandoned,  and  the  weather  soon 
after  becoming  pleasant,  the  new  commander  decided  to 
move  on  the  enemy  as  soon  as  the  necessary  arrange 
ments  could  be  perfected. 


THE  ENEMY'S  LINE.  257 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURGH. 

STRENGTH  of  the  Army. — Position  of  the  Enemy. — Plan  of  Attack. — Laying  the 
Pontons.— The  Highlanders  Cross  the  River.— The  Night  of  the  I2th.— Battle 
of  the  1 3th. — The  Failure. — Burnside  to  Lead  the  Ninth  Corps  on  the  Morn 
ing  of  the  I4th. — Colonel  Leasure's  Protest. — Highlanders  Cover  the  Rear  of 
the  Corps. — A  Delicate  Task. — The  Holidays,  New  Year's  of  '63.— Stuck  in 
the  Mud. — Burnside  Relieved  by  General  Hooker. — How  the  "  Bummers  " 
Escaped  Punishment. 

the  10th  of  December,  Burnside  had  about  112,000 
men  in  camp.  Sumner's  grand  division  consisted 
of  about  22,000,  and  occupied  the  right  of  the  line, 
extending  up  the  river  beyond  Falmouth  ;  General 
Hooker's  center,  of  about  39,000,  joined  Sumner's  left, 
while  Franklin,  with  about  46,000,  occupied  the  left,  his 
line  stretching  about  three  miles  below  Fredericksburgh. 
Among  these  were  distributed  275  guns.  The  cavalry 
occupied  the  flanks  and  rear  of  the  army,  while  the 
engineer  corps  was  distributed  at  the  several  points 
intended  for  throwing  the  bridges.  Our  line  was  about 
six  miles  in  length.  The  heights  of  Falmouth  and,  fur 
ther  down  the  river,  those  of  Stafford,  on  which  our 
batteries  had  been  planted,  commanded  the  ridge  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  on  which  the  enemy  had  erected 
their  field  works,  but  there  w^as  a  higher  ridge  in  their 
rear,  to  which  they  might  fall  back  in  case  of  being 
driven  from  their  more  advanced  position. 

The  enemy's  line  was  about  the  same  length  as 
ours,  and  began  at  a  point  a  mile  north  of  the  city, 
where  the  bluffs  touched  the  river,  and  ran  parallel  with 

17 


258  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

its  general  course  ;  but  at  the  point  of  junction  the  river 
makes  a  sudden  bend  to  the  east  for  about  a  mile,  and 
then  resumes  its  general  course.  It  is  upon  this  plateau 
— about  a  mile  wide — that  the  city  of  Fredericksburgh  is 
built.  The  enemy's  left  rested  on  the  bluff  overlooking 
the  river,  and  their  line  followed  the  crest  of  the  ridge 
for  about  half  a  mile  below  Marye's  house,  and  nearly 
opposite  the  lower  end  of  the  city.  Below  Marye's  the 
ridge  is  somewhat  broken,  but  yet  afforded  admirable 
opportunities  for  the  use  of  the  pick  and  shovel,  which 
the  enemy  had  dilligently  plied. 

Rurnside's  plan,  in  brief,  was  that  Franklin,  with  his 
large  force,  should  cross  the  river  about  a  mile  below  the 
city  and  turn  the  enemy's  right  flank,  Sumner  to  cross 
opposite  the  city  and  assault  Marye's  Heights,  or  act  in 
conjunction  with  Franklin,  as  circumstances  might  war 
rant.  Hooker  was  to  be  held  in  reserve,  ready  to  rein 
force  either  our  right  or  left.  Bridges  were  to  be  thrown 
at  three  places  :  at  Franklin's  position  ;  at  the  lower  end 
of  the  town  ;  and,  just  above  the  place  where  the  county 
bridge  had  stood,  near  the  north  end  of  the  town.  The 
enemy  could,  if  disposed,  by  the  use  of  artillery,  render 
the 'thro wing  of  Franklin's  bridges  exceedingly  difficult, 
if  not  altogether  impossible,  but  the  buildings  in  the  town 
masked  the  other  locations. 

General  Lee,  it  seems,  decided  to  merely  delay,  as  long 
as  possible,  by  the  use  of  riflemen,  the  construction  of 
the  bridges  opposite  the  city,  in  order  to  give  him  time  to 
concentrate  his  troops,  and  trust  to  his  batteries  and 
muskets  to  defeat  the  Union  troops  as  they  advanced 
over  the  half-mile  or  more  of  open,  level  ground  that 
intervened  between  the  outskirts  of  the  town  and  his 
line  of  earthworks.  Burnside's  plan  was  the  very  one 
that  the  Confederate  commander  wished  him  to  pursue  ; 
what  a  fine  opportunity  there  might  be  for  the  Confed 
erates,  after  our  assault  had  failed,  to  make  a  counter 


D  ECJ865. 

SC/A  Z 


1862.  REBEL  SHARPSHOOTERS.  261 

charge  and  drive  us  into  the  river  !  So  thought  General 
Jackson,  at  least,  on  the  night  of  the  13th,  and  the 
enemy  rejoiced  when  they  saw  Burnside  throw  his  army 
into  a  trap  of  his  own  construction. 

On  the  night  of  the  10th  we  received  sixty  rounds  of 
ammunition  per  man,  and  were  ordered  to  be  ready  to 
move  early  the  following  morning.  Considerable  anxiety 
and  not  a  little  fear  prevailed  in  our  minds  as  to  the 
result  of  the  approaching  battle.  Long  before  daylight 
on  the  llth  the  reveille  roused  us  from  sleep,  and  after 
a  hasty  breakfast,  line  was  formed,  and,  standing  in  the 
cold,  foggy  atmosphere,  we  awaited  orders. 

As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  the  engineer  corps 
began  to  lay  the  ponton  bridges.  Franklin,  from  the 
left,  below  the  town,  reported  a  little  before  noon  that  his 
were  ready  for  the  men  to  cross,  but  in  our  front,  oppo 
site  the  city,  the  case  was  different.  During  the  night 
the  engineer  corps  had  been  at  work,  and  under  cover  of 
the  darkness  had  laid  a  little  more  than  half  of  the 
bridge  without  being  molested ;  even  after  daylight  the 
fog  which  hung  over  the  river  screened  our  working 
party,  but  as  soon  as  it  began  to  lift,  the  rebel  sharp 
shooters,  posted  in  the  houses  near  the  river  bank,  com 
pelled  the  men  to  suspend  operations.  General  Wood- 
bury  who  had  charge  of  the  operation,  reported  twice  that 
he  was  unable  to  complete  the  work.  Even  the  tremendous 
fire  of  our  artillery,  which  had  opened  to  protect  the 
operation,  and  which  had  set  fire  to  houses  in  various 
parts  of  the  town,  could  not  drive  out  the  sharpshooters, 
who  easily  moved  about  from  point  to  point  and  shot 
down  our  working  party.  At  length  General  Burnside 
went  in  person  to  look  at  the  situation,  and  decided  at 
once  to  send  a  force  of  infantry  across  in  boats  to  drive 
the  enemy  from  their  cover.  Volunteers  were  called  for 
from  the  troops  stationed  nearest  the  river,  and,  from 
those  offering,  a  selection  was  made  from  the  Seventh 


262  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

Michigan,  the  Nineteenth  and  Twentieth  Massachusetts 
following  in  support.  As  the  fleet  of  boats  neared  the 
opposite  shore  it  was  met  by  a  perfect  storm  of  bullets, 
but  the  brave  survivors  pushed  on,  and  when  they  leaped 
ashore  the  rebels  fled.  The  pontons  were  soon  after  laid 
and  troops  crossed  over  in  support  of  the  skirmish  line. 

Our  brigade  got  110  farther  than  the  river  bank  that 
day.  So  much  time  had  been  occupied  with  the  bridges 
that  it  was  not  deemed  advisable  to  make  the  assault  till 
the  next  day,  and  we  returned  to  camp  after  dark.  The 
artillery  fire  from  our  batteries  continued  at  intervals 
during  the  day,  and  until  near  nine  o'clock  in  the  even 
ing.  We  were  all  glad  enough  that  another  night  was 
to  intervene  between  us  and  what  we  believed  would  be 
a  desperate  battle.  People  generally  are  quite  willing  to 
postpone  the  discharge  of  a  disagreeable  duty,  and  soldiers 
in  the  field  are  no  exception  to  the  rule.  Troops  enough 
to  hold  the  bridges  Jiad  been  sent  across  the  river,  and 
when  we  lay  down  at  bed-time  it  was  with  a  grim  deter 
mination  to  do  our  whole  duty  when  the  time  for  action 
should  arrive. 

About  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  we 
marched  down  to  the  river,  crossed,  and,  a  short  distance 
to  the  left  of  the  bridge,  brigade  line  was  formed,  where 
we  remained  for  several  hours.  Our  batteries  on  the 
opposite  side  kept  up  a  desultory  fire,  which  was  answered 
by  the  enemy,  a  few  of  their  shells  exploding  near  enough 
our  line  to  wound  a  few  men.  Later  in  the  day  we 
moved  further  down  the  river,  and  formed  a  junction 
with  Franklin's  troops.  This  brought  the  regiment  into 
a  hollow,  which  in  a  measure  protected  us  from  the 
enemy's  fire,  but  the  night  was  passed  by  most  of  us  in 
a  very  anxious  frame  of  mind.  There  seemed  to  be  an 
endless  amount  of  confusion  among  the  troops  ;  line  upon 
line  of  stacked  muskets  occupied  the  streets  in  the  lower 
end  of  the  city,  many  of  the  men  lying  beside  their  arms, 


1 862.  TERRIFIC  FIRE.  263 

while  others  were  roaming  about  or  sleeping  in  the 
houses.  A  number  of  buildings  which  had  been  set  on 
fire  by  the  Union  shells  were  burning,  and  all  through  the 
night  the  batteries  kept  up  a  steady  fire  on  the  enemy's 
position.  We  were  not  at  all  anxious  to  ' '  pitch  in,"  yet 
were  ready  and  willing  to  take  the  chances  of  "  a  bullet 
or  a  billet,"  as  the  fortunes  of  war  might  decide. 

About  eight  o'clock  the  next  morning,  Saturday,  the 
13th,  our  artillery  opened  a  furious  cannonade,  under 
cover  of  which  our  troops  advanced  to  the  positions  from 
which  they  were  to  make  the  assault.  The  Ninth  corps, 
occupying  that  part  of  our  line  below  the  town,  between 
Hazel  and  Deep  Euns,  was  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  to 
support  the  attacks  of  either  Franklin  on  our  left,  or 
Couch,  who  commanded  the  Second  corps,  on  our  right. 

At  noon  the  assault  began  by  Meade's  division  of  the 
First  corps,  which  effected  a  lodgement  on  the  enemy's 
right,  but,  not  being  properly  supported,  the  effort  was 
almost  a  failure.  Couch  had  moved  on  our  right,  and 
our  Second  division  was  sent  to  his  support,  Ferrero's 
brigade  making  a  gallant  charge  and  suffering  heavy 
loss.  The  troops  moved  forward  bravely,  and  as  soon  as 
they  gained  the  open  plain,  were  met  by  a  terrific  fire  from 
the  guns  of  the  enemy  ;  the  storm  of  shot  and  shell  was 
fearful,  and  wrought  sad  havoc  in  the  advancing  ranks. 
Our  troops  pressed  forward,  however,  until  they  came 
within  range  of  the  enemy's  infantry,  and  there  their 
advance  was  checked.  Flesh  and  blood  could  not  with 
stand  the  terrible  shower  of  iron  and  lead  that  now 
poured  into  their  already  decimated  ranks,  and  the  men 
were  obliged  to  lie  down  behind  such  slight  shelter  as  the 
rolling  ground  afforded.  The  bravest  of  our  troops  held 
their  ground,  while  others  fell  back  in  disorder,  and 
suffered  heavily  again  in  their  retreat  across  the  open 
ground. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  our  division  was 


SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

sent  across  Deep  Run  to  support  Franklin,  but  his  ad 
vance  had  been  checked,  and  thus  were  we  saved  from 
the  fearful  slaughter  of  the  day.  At  about  four  o'clock 
General  Getty's  Third  division  of  our  corps  was  sent  to 
the  right  to  help  Couch,  where  they  did  some  excellent 
work  and  suffered  great  loss.  Our  light  batteries,  too, 
crossed  to  the  help  of  the  infantry,  and  the  losses  sus 
tained  by  the  artillery  also  attested  the  severity  of  the 
engagement.  Several  of  our  officers  obtained  permission 
to  leave  the  ranks  in  order  to  obtain  a  view  of  the  field 
on  our  right,  and  on  their  return  reported  that,  while  our 
troops  were  doing  all  that  flesh  and  blood  could  do,  they 
thought  it  would  be  impossible  to  hold  the  heights,  even 
if  they  were  carried,  owing  to  the  range  of  hills  in  the  rear 
held  by  the  enemy,  and  commanding  those  in  front. 
When  Simmer's  assault  failed,  orders  to  prepare  for 
action  reached  General  Burns,  and  our  division  was 
about  to  march  in  Simmer's  direction  when,  much  to  our 
relief,  the  order  was  countermanded. 

We  lay  on  our  arms  till  about  four  o'clock  Sunday 
morning,  at  which  time  we  marched  back  to  the  city, 
where  the  whole  corps  was  massed.  Burnside  had  deter 
mined  to  renew  the  assault,  and  to  lead  the  Ninth  corps 
in  person  in  a  grand  charge  on  the  enemy's  lines,  the 
First  division  to  lead  in  the  attack.  Late  the  night 
before,  Colonel  Leasure,  commanding  the  Third  brigade, 
had  been  informed  that  his  command  was  to  lead  the 
charge,  an  I  \vas  asked  to  submit  a  plan  of  attack.  His 
plan  contemplated  sending  his  own  regiment  —  the 
Eoundheads  —  before  daylight  to  secure  a  position,  in 
skirmishing  order,  near  the  enemy's  lines,  while  the 
other  regiments  of  the  brigade  —  the  Thirty-Sixth  Massa 
chusetts  and  Forty-Fifth  Pennsylvania  —  should  close  up 
in  immediate  support,  these  in  turn  to  be  followed  by 
the  other  brigades  of  the  division,  and  by  the  other  divi 
sions  of  the  corps.  Just  at  daylight  the  charge  was  to  be 


«862.  OUR   DETAIL.  265 

made.  But  with  this  plan  Leasure  sent  his  solemn  pro 
test  against  the  terrible  sacrifice  of  life  such  an  assault 
would  entail  in  his  brigade  if  his  plan  was  adopted.  This 
protest  was  endorsed  by  Generals  Burns,  Willcox,  and 
Simmer,  and  caused  General  Burnside  to  hesitate,  but  it 
was  not  until  both  Generals  Hooker  and  Franklin  had 
added  their  disapproval  of  the  plan  that  it  w^as  abandoned. 
The  Roundheads  had  secured  their  advanced  position, 
and  the  corps  was  under  arms,  but  no  orders  for  an 
assault  were  received  ;  thus  we  remained  till  night-fall, 
when  we  marched  back  to  the  point  where  we  had  spent 
the  previous  afternoon  and  evening.  Throwing  out  a 
strong  picket  to  guard  against  an  attack,  we  rested 
through  the  night. 

The  15th  was  passed  without  anything  worthy  of  note 
occurring  till  after  dark,  when  fifty  picked  men  under 
Captain  Lusk  and  Lieutenants  Armour  and  Menzies  were 
ordered  to  advance  as  near  the  enemy's  lines  as  possible 
without  drawing  their  fire,  and  hold  the  position  till  fur 
ther  orders.  We  supposed  at  this  time  that  Burnside 
had  re-adopted  his  plan  of  attacking  with  the  Ninth 
corps,  and  that  our  detail  was  to  form  a  part  at  least,  of 
the  "Forlorn  Hope,"  and  even  now,  after  these  many 
years,  we  recall  to  mind  the  religious  services  held  that 
evening,  which  tended  still  more  to  make  us  think  of  the 
possible  dangers  of  the  morrow. 

After  the  detail  left,  the  regiment  settled  down  for  the 
night,  but  a  little  before  midnight  we  were  turned  out 
and  marched  to  the  ponton  bridge,  and  on  our  arrival 
there  found  the  troops  crossing  to  the  northern  bank. 

The  great  battle  was  over  and  the  Union  army  had 
suffered  a  terrible  defeat.  Sand  and  loam  had  been 
thickly  spread  on-  the  bridge  in  order  to  deaden  the  sound 
of  horses  hoofs  and  the  tread  of  the  men.  We  reached 
our  old  camp  ground  in  due  time  and  threw  ourselves 
down  on  the  cold  ground  to  spend  the  balance  of  the 
night. 


266  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

Meanwhile  the  detail,  which  had  left  the  regiment  early 
in  the  evening,  proceeded  on  its  way  to  the  front.  The 
men  moved  quietly  through  the  lower  end  of  the  city  and 
out  on  the  plain  between  it  and  the  enemy's  works.  It 
was  very  dark,  and  as  they  marched  noislessly  along, 
the  camp  fires  of  the  enemy,  which  could  be  dis 
tinctly  seen,  served  as  a  guide  towards  his  lines.  When 
within  a  hundred  yards— as  near  as  could  be  guessed — of 
his  pickets,  our  men  halted  and  lay  down  flat  on  the 
ground  ;  orders  were  passed  in  whispers  and  every  man 
felt  as  though  the  success  of  the  enterprise  depended  on 
his  own  individual  courage  and  bravery.  This  position 
was  maintained  till  within  an  hour  of  daylight,  when 
orders  were  quietly  given  to  withdraw  by  the  left  flank, 
and  to  preserve  the  utmost  silence,  as  life  depended  on 
the  secrecy  of  the  movement. 

It  now  began  to  dawn  upon  the  minds  of  our  party, 
that  they  were  covering  the  retreat  of  a  portion  of  our 
army  ;  this  was  confirmed  when  on  entering  the  city,  not 
a  living  person  but  themselves  was  to  be  seen  or  heard  ; 
neither  was  any  one  seen  till  the  bridge  was  reached,  and 
then  only  a  couple  of  men  belonging  to  the  engineer 
corps,  who  stood  with  axes  in  their  hands,  and  when  the 
last  of  our  men  stepped  on  the  bridge,  the  ropes  that  held 
the  bridge  to  the  shore  were  cut,  and  as  the  rear  passed 
over,  each  succeeding  anchor  rope  was  severed,  allowing 
the  bridge  to  swing  down  to  the  northern  bank.  It  was 
daylight  when  our  men  reached  camp,  feeling  quite 
proud  of  the  confidence  placed  in  their  courage  and  pru 
dence,  which  caused  them  to  be  selected  for  such  an 
important  and  delicate  task. 

When  morning  dawned  the  enemy's  skirmish  line 
advanced  to  the  river  bank,  and  the  Eappahannock  was 
lined  on  either  side  by  the  pickets  of  the  contending 
armies.  Five  days  later  the  ponton  bridge  was  taken  up, 
the  Highlanders  serving  as  the  covering  party  in  our 
immediate  front. 


1 862.  NEW  YEAR'S  DAY.  267 

Winter  had  now  fairly  set  in,  and  the  army  settled 
down  to  the  usual  routine  of  field  duty  in  the  presence  of 
the  enemy.  We  soon  became  tolerably  well  acquainted 
with  our  opponents,  and  the  picket  duty  was  not  very 
dangerous.  Christinas  was  observed — as  a  day  of  the 
month — but  there  was  no  " hilarity"  among  the  men. 
On  the  26th  we  began  the  erection  of  log  shanties  for 
winter  quarters,  which  served  to  keep  us  busy  and  occupy 
our  minds  for  a  while.  Brigade,  division,  corps  and 
grand  division  reviews  and  inspections  occurred,  and  the 
army  was  kept  in  a  condition  for  immediate  action. 

When  New  Years  day  of  1863  appeared,  the  camp  pre 
sented  quite  a  cheerful  appearance.  Special  efforts  had 
been  made  by  our  officers,  and  by  the  help  of  some  gen 
erous  friends  in  New  York,  they  were  enabled  to  receive 
their  friends  in  a  hospitable  manner,  and  to  fitly  celebrate 
the  occasion.  A  large  hospital  tent  had  been  fitted  up, 
and  all  the  "fixins"  were  present  fora  proper  observ 
ance  of  the  day.  Two  long  tables  were  tastefully  decor 
ated  and  loaded  with  the  best  that  could  be  obtained 
from  Washington,  the  feast  being  crowned  by  a  huge 
bowl  of  steaming  hot  whiskey  punch. 

While  liquor  was  contraband  of  war  at  this  time,  that 
fact  did  not  prevent  the  issuing  of  invitations  to  all  the 
leading  officers  of  the  army,  several  of  whom  and  a  host 
of  minor  rank,  responded  to  the  Highlanders'  courtesy, 
and  if  they  were  surprised  by  being  confronted  with  the 
contraband  article,  they  asked  no  questions,  for  con 
science  sake,  but  drank  the  hot  toddy,  smacked  their  lips 
and  asked  for  more.  Songs  and  toasts  wound  up  a  very 
enjoyable  occasion.  Neither  were  the  private  soldiers  of 
the  regiment  forgotten,  for  all  who  wished — and  there 
were  not  many  who  refused — had  a  little  something  to 
" wash  down"  or  "keep  out"  the  Eappahannock  fog. 
The  night  closed  upon  a  red-letter  day  in  our  calendar. 

Nothing  of  any  importance  occurred  after  the  New 


268  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

Year  celebration  till  the  20th.  The  weather  had  been 
clear  and  cold,  the  roads  were  in  fine  condition  and  all 
indications  pointed  to  a  continuance  of  pleasant  weather. 
Eumors  had  been  in  circulation  for  a  week  or  more  of 
another  advance  across  the  river.  The  failure  of  the 
December  assault  had  not  shaken  the  faith  of  the  Gov 
ernment  in  Burnside's  ability,  and  he  finally  determined 
on  crossing  by  Banks'  Ford,  some  five  miles  above  the 
city,  with  the  bulk  of  his  army,  and  attacking  the  enemy 
in  flank  and  rear,  while  the  Ninth  corps  should  cross  in 
front  of  the  city  and  assault  Marye's  Heights. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  Franklin's  and  Hooker's 
troops  began  their  march  to  the  appointed  rendezvous, 
and  as  they  passed  our  corps,  still  in  our  comfortable 
quarters,  they  cast  many  reflections  on  Burnside,  for 
apparently  favoring  us  over  the  other  portion  of  the 
army.  We  would  gladly  have  changed  places  with  them, 
however,  as  we  would  have  much  preferred  meeting  the 
enemy  on  an  open  field  than  risking  another  assault  on 
the  frowning  batteries  in  rear  of  the  town.  But  the 
promise  of  fair  weather  which  the  morning  gave  proved 
delusive,  for  at  sundown  the  clouds  began  to  gather,  and 
before  midnight  one  of  the  worst  storms  we  had  ever 
experienced  broke  over  us.  The  troops  on  the  road  were 
obliged  to  endure  the  pitiless  rain  without  shelter,  and 
when  morning  of  the  21st  broke,  the  mud  was  so  deep 
that  it  was  nearly  impossible  to  move  wagons  or  artillery. 
We  had  been  ordered  out  before  daylight,  but  almost 
immediately  the  order  was  countermanded  and  we 
returned  to  our  tents.  The  movement  of  troops  was 
suspended,  and  later  in  the  day  came  the  orders  for  them 
to  return  to  their  former  quarters ;  but  it  was  several 
days  before  the  artillery  could  be  moved.  On  the  22d 
the  rebel  pickets  amused  themselves  at  our  expense,  by 
placing  sign-boards  along  their  bank,  with  the  inscrip 
tion  '  *  Burnside  Stuck  in  the  Mud. "  Thus  began  and 
ended  the  "  Mud  Campaign." 


1863.  THE  MAX  HAD  N?T  DIED.  269 

Of  course  many  looked  upon  the  storm  as  a  positive 
disaster,  while  the  more  timid  thought  it  was  an  inter 
position  of  Providence  to  save  us  from  another  and  more 
disastrous  defeat,  for  now  the  river  was  so  swollen  that 
the  fords  were  impassable,  and  not  even  ponton  bridges 
could  be  thrown  ;  and  so  the  timid  ones  reasoned  that 
had  the  army  got  safely  over  and  been  defeated,  the 
rebels  would  have  driven  the  survivors  into  the  river  or 
made  them  prisoners  of  war. 

This  last  failure  caused  a  prolonged  howl  from  the 
military  critics  of  the  north,  and  Burnside's  uMud  Cam 
paign  "  was  the  subject  of  jest  for  both  pen  and  pencil, 
from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other.  After  the  defeat 
of  December,  Burnside  had  tendered  his  resignation  ;  it 
was  now  renewed,  but  the  President  preferred  to  retain 
his  services  in  the  field,  and  merely  relieved  him  from  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  placed  Major- 
General  Joseph  Hooker  in  that  unenviable  position. 

Little  of  consequence  occurred  from  this  time  till  our 
removal  to  Newport  News,  about  the  middle  of  February. 
There  was  a  good  deal  of  sickness  among  some  of  the 
other  regiments,  and  many  men  died  from  disease.  A 
rather  ghastly  joke  was  perpetrated  on  our  drum  corps, 
which  had  been  called  upon  frequently  to  attend  the 
funerals  in  a  neighboring  regiment  whose  own  corps  was 
incapacitated  for  duty.  One  evening  our  boys  were 
requested  to  attend  the  following  morning,  and  assist  in 
the  burial  of  a  man  who  was  not  expected  to  survive  the 
night.  The  boys  went  over  at  the  time  appointed,  with 
muffled  drums  and  becoming  solemnity,  to  perform  the 
sad  duty  ;  but  in  a  few  minutes  returned,  exciting  con 
siderable  mirth,  as  they  passed  through  the  camp,  by 
explaining  the  cause  of  their  sudden  return  :  ' 6  Every 
thing  was  ready,"  they  said,  "  for  the  funeral  except  the 
corpse — the  man  had  n't  died ! " 

In  every  regiment  there  was  a  class  of  men — few  in 


270  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

number,  fortunately — who,  upon  the  least  possible  pre 
text,  would  absent  themselves  from  regular  duty,  but 
whose  specious  pleading  and  comical  excuses  for  absen 
teeism  generally  sufficed  to  shield  them  from  incarcera 
tion  in  the  guard-house.  Brave  fellows  generally,  they 
would  lag  behind  on  the  march,  to  see  what  they  could 
pick  up  ;  or,  push  on  ahead  of  the  column,  in  order  to 
have  the  first  "whack"  at  any  good  thing  that  might 
come  in  their  way.  During  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea 
such  men  were  called  ' '  Bummers. "  Had  not  the  officers' 
mess  been  frequently  and  substantially  benefited  by  these 
fellows,  doubtless  their  "blarney  "  would  not  have  saved 
them  from  the  punishment  they  so  richly  deserved. 

One  day  such  a  character  presented  himself  at  head 
quarters  and  asked  to  see  the  Colonel.  On  being  admit 
ted,  he  was  asked,  in  a  somewhat  stern  manner,  to 
explain  the  cause  of  his  two  or  three  days'  absence,  with 
out  leave,  from  duty.  "Now,  Colonel,  I'll  tell  ye.  Ye 
see,  '  Bob  '  told  me,  a  day  or  two  ago,  that  ye  were  very 
short  of  provisions— that  ye  hadn't  had  an  egg  or  a 
chicken  for  a  long  time.  And  I  says  to  meself— that's 
too  bad  ;  I'll  go  and  see  if  I  can't  find  something  nice  for 
the  Colonel  to  eat.  Some  nice  new-born  eggs,  or  a  fat 
hen,  would  be  just  the  thing ;  and  I  was  bound  to  get 
either  one  or  the  other.  But  it  tuk  me  a  long  time, 
Colonel;  and  all  I  could  get  was  these."  Suiting  the 
action  to  the  word,  he  began  pulling  some  eggs  out  of 
his  pockets,  till  he  had  laid  a  dozen  or  more  on  the 
Colonel's  table.  The  fellow  had  doubtless  been  on  a  spree 
somewhere,  and  had  "found"  the  eggs  at  some  sutler's 
and  brought  them  in  as  a  peace  offering,  to  propitiate 
offended  military  discipline. 

On  another  occasion  this  same  "bummer"  presented 
the  Captain  of  his  company  with  a  tub  of  butter— the 
scene  at  the  presentation  being  thus  described  by  that 
officer:  "While  sitting  in  my  tent  reading  one  day,  a 


1863.  FULL   OF  THE   BLARNEY.  271 

head  was  poked  in  between  the  flaps,  and  the  owner 
informed  me  that  if  I  was  not  too  busy,  there  were  some 
friends  who  desired  to  talk  with  me.  Having  signified  that 
I  was  at  their  service,  the  spokesman,  in  very  complimen 
tary  terms,  informed  me  that  he  and  the  others  had  been 
out  on  leave  for  a  few  hours,  and  while  at  the  railroad 
station,  a  train  had  arrived  from  Acquia  Creek  with  a 
large  lot  of  sutlers'  stores  from  Washington  ;  that  among 
other  things  was  a  supply  of  very  nice  butter  ;  and  being- 
aware  of  the  fact  that  we  had  not  been  able  to  procure 
any  for  a  long  time,  and  from  a  desire  to  show  their 
kindly  feelings  towards  me,  he  and  the  other  boys  had 
procured  a  lot  and  they  desired  to  present  me  with  a  nice 
tubful.  The  complimentary  remarks  of  the  speaker, 
full  of  the  blarney  with  which  he  was  always  loaded, 
naturally  made  them  acceptable,  even  if  unaccompanied 
by  the  butter,  which  was  still  more  acceptable  ;  and  my 
thanks  having  been  duly  returned  to  the  delegation,  they 
left  the  tub  and  withdrew.  When,  a  few  weeks  later,  I 
learned  in  some  way  that  these  men,  displeased  at  the 
exorbitant  prices  asked  by  the  sutler  for  his  goods,  had 
appropriated  to  their  own  use,  without  paying  anything, 
the  butter  and  numerous  other  delicacies,  I  was  unable 
to  remember  that  the  butter  had  not  tasted  as  good  as 
though  purchased  at  a  dollar  a  pound." 


272  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  February, 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

FROM  FREDERICKSBURGH  TO  KENTUCKY. 

LEAVING  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. — At  Newport  News  again. — By  Water  to 
Baltimore. — By  Rail  to  Parkersburg,  Va. — Down  the  Ohio. — Louisville. — 
Lebanon. — Grand  Entertainment  by  the  Drum  Corps. — Green  River. — 
Columbia. — Second  Anniversary. — "Jimtown." — Back  to  Columbia  in  the 
Rain.—  Lebanon  and  the  "  Alhambra." — Going  Further  West. 

the  12th  of  February  we  received  orders  to  hold 
ourselves  in  readiness  to  move  at  a  moment's 
notice.  At  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  after 
a  hurried  breakfast,  we  boarded  the  cars,  and  at  ten 
o'clock  arrived  at  Acquia  Creek.  We  found  the  whole 
corps  in  motion,  and  speculation  was  rife,  as  usual,  as  to 
our  destination.  We  embarked  on  steamers,  and  at  four 
o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  15th  moved  down  the  river,  anchor 
ing  near  its  mouth  at  dark.  At  daylight  on  the  16th 
our  voyage  was  resumed  ;  Fort  Monroe  was  passed  in 
due  time,  and,  sailing  up  to  Newport  News,  we  landed 
and  went  into  camp.  "A"  tents  had  been  provided  and 
we  were  soon  comfortably  installed  in  our  new  quarters. 
The  18th  proved  rainy,  and  but  little  out-door  work  was 
accomplished. 

The  wound  received  by  Colonel  Farnsworth  on  the 
80th  of  August  had  rendered  him  unfit  for  further  field 
duty,  and  news  of  his  resignation  now  reached  the  regi 
ment.  At  this  time  the  reports  showed  four  hundred 
and  forty-one  officers  and  men  present  for  duty. 

On  the  20th  our  regular  round  of  camp  duty  began  ; 


1863.  A   REGIMENTAL  SUTLER.  273 

snow  and  rain  alternated  with  pleasant  weather,  and  our 
spare  time  was  fully  occupied  in  building  log  foundations 
for  our  tents.  The  relief. from  outpost  and  picket  duty 
in  the  presence  of  the  enemy  was  fully  appreciated  by 
us,  and  with  plenty  to  eat  we  were  rapidly  becoming  fat 
and  lazy.  The  appointment  of  a  regimental  sutler  com 
ing  up  during  our  stay  here,  the  officers  unanimously 
recommended  Mr.  John  McKenzie,  formerly  orderly-ser 
geant  of  Company  I,  and  who  had  been  severely  wounded 
at  Bull  Run,  in  1801,  losing  a  leg  by  amputation  while  a 
prisoner  in  the  enemy's  hands  at  Richmond.  He,  with 
Sergeant  Shearer  and  others,  had  been  parolled  in  Octo 
ber  of  that  year.  McKenzie  brought  important  letters 
and  information  from  Richmond  to  President  Lincoln 
and  Secretary  of  War  Cameron,  which  he  delivered  in 
person,  and  General  Cameron  showed  his  appreciation  of 
McKenzie's  services  by  offering  to  pay  for  an  artificial 
leg  for  the  crippled  Highlander.  The  leg  was  procured, 
and  in  a  kind  note  accompanying  his  check,  the  Secre 
tary  expressed  his  continued  interest  in  the  men  of  the 
Seventy-Ninth. 

On  the  21st  Lieutenant -Colonel  Morrison  started  for 
New  York,  leaving  Major  More  in  command  of  the  regi 
ment.  Inasmuch  as  the  Colonelcy  was  vacant,  we  all 
hoped  that  the  eagles  might  perch  on  the  shoulders  of 
our  gallant  Lieutenant-Colonel,  who,  since  the  James 
Island  campaign,  was  looked  upon  by  us  all  as  a  brave  and 
skilful  leader.  Oil  this  day,  too,  Captain  Laing  arrived 
from  New  York,  with  a  squad  of  recruits,  and  a  few  old 
members,  returning  from  sick  leave.  While  on  dress 
parade  in  the  evening,  our  old  friends,  the  Eighth  Michi 
gan,  paid  us  a  handsome  compliment.  They  marched  to 
our  parade  ground,  and  forming  line  directly  facing  the 
regiment,  salutes  were  exchanged,  and  after  the  com 
mands  had  been  brought  to  order  arms,  the  Rev.  Geo. 
Taylor,  chaplain  of  the  Eighth,  stepped  between  the  lines, 

18 


274:  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  February, 

and  stated,  that  having  written  an  ode,  dedicated  to  his 
regiment,  he  proposed  reading  it  to  them  ;  but  on  learning 
that  it  contained  some  flattering  allusions  to  their  friends, 
the  Highlanders,  they  had  refused  to  hear  it  read,  unless 
in  the  presence  of  both  regiments.  Hence  their  visit. 

The  ode  was  then  read.  It  contained,  in  chronological 
order,  a  brief  history  of  the  engagements  in  which  the 
Eighth  had  participated,  the  part  which  interested  us 
most  being  that  relating  to  the  battle  on  James  Island  : 

"  Fell?     They  had  all  fallen 

At  south'rn  rebels'  feet, 
But  for  the  Seventy-Ninth  New  York, 

Which  covered  their  retreat; 
Into  the  thickest  of  the  fight 

The  Highland  braves  rushed  on — 
Covered  and  saved  the  heroic  Eighth, 

And  more  than  victory  won." 

After  the  reading,  cheers  for  the  "Gallant  Eighth" 
were  given  ;  they  were  returned  by  that  regiment,  which 
then  withdrew  to  their  camp. 

Camp  bulletins  respecting  the  ultimate  destination 
of  the  corps  were  circulated  daily.  We  knew  that  New 
port  News  would  not  long  be  our  abiding  place,  and  that 
as  soon  as  Spring  opened  we  would  find  active  work 
somewhere.  Although  we  often  thought  of  General 
Burnside,  and  wished  to  be  with  him,  none  of  us  dreamed 
that  we  were  destined  to  serve  again  under  his  leadership. 
At  one  time  we  were  much  worked  up  by  the  report,  in 
some  of  the  New  York  papers,  that  Burnside  was  to 
relieve  General  Hunter  at  Port  Eoyal,  and  that  the  corps 
was  to  be  sent  there  ;  and,  although  we  had  been  ' i  glad 
to  get  out  of  the  wilderness,"  no  doubt  the  men  would 
have  been  pleased  to  return,  not  to  James  Island,  but  to 
Beaufort.  General  W.  F.  Smith,  who  was  now  in  com 
mand  of  the  corps,  seemed  determined  to  make  it  a 
model — if  drill  could  accomplish  that  result — and  thus  be 
prepared  for  whatever  service  was  in  store  for  it.  General 


1863.  RAIN  AND   SNOW.  275 

Dix  reviewed  the  corps  on  the  25th,  and  brigade  drills 
were  frequent. 

On  March  3d,  the  division  was  reviewed  by  General 
Willcox,  and  on  the  llth  we  turned  out  to  assist  at  the 
presentation  of  a  stand  of  colors  to  the  Eighth  Michigan. 
Shortly  after  this  it  was  announced  in  general  orders  that 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Morrison  had  been  appointed  Colonel, 
Major  More  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain  Simpson 
Major,  commissions  to  date  from  the  17th  of  February. 
The  first  two  appointments  pleased  us.  On  the  night  of 
the  17th,  orders  to  prepare  three  days'  rations,  and  be 
ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice,  warned  us  that  our 
comfortable  quarters  must  soon  be  abandoned.  By  mid 
night  the  rations  were  cooked  and  distributed,  our  knap 
sacks  packed,  and  all  ready  for  the  command  to  fall  in  ; 
but  it  did  not  come  ;  so  we  lay  down  again,  and  were  not 
disturbed  till  daylight,  when  we  learned  that  the  cause  of 
the  sudden  alarm  was  owing  to  an  attack  by  the  enemy 
near  Suffolk,  on  the  Blackwater.  We  remained  during 
the  18th  in  expectancy  of  orders  to  move,  but  none  came, 
and  at  night  we  retired  as  usual.  At  four  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  19th,  however,  we  were  turned  out,  and 
found  that  the  cooks  had  been  up  since  midnight,  pre 
paring  five  days'  rations.  This  was  soon  stored  in  our 
haversacks,  and  after  swallowing  a  cup  of  coffee,  we 
made  our  way  to  the  wharf,  where  we  found  the  steamer 
John  Rice  in  waiting.  About  noon,  and  during  the  prev 
alence  of  a  heavy  storm  of  rain  and  snow,  we  boarded 
the  vessel,  which  then  steamed  in  the  direction  of  Fort 
Monroe.  We  soon  turned  about,  however,  as  the  storm 
increased  to  such  a  degree  that  it  was  impossible  to  navi 
gate  the  ship.  We  lay  off  Newport  News  till  the  next 
morning,  when  Colonel  Morrison  came  on  board,  the 
eagles  glittering  on  his  shoulder-straps.  Lieutenant 
David  G.  Falconer,  of  Company  B,  also  arrived.  This 
officer  had  received  a  wound  at  Antietam  which  resulted 


276  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  March, 

in  his  losing  a  leg  above  the  knee.  Doctor  Palmer,  of 
Philadelphia,  however,  had  furnished  him  with  a  very 
good  substitute,  and  the  gallant  officer,  leaving  his  young 
bride — only  a  few  days  his  wife — returned  to  serve  his 
country  again  in  the  field.  He  had  received  a  staff 
appointment,  and  managed  his  "store  leg,"  while  on 
horseback,  in  a  very  creditable  manner. 

At  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  we  again 
sailed  down  Hampton  Eoads,  and  the  weather  being 
pleasant  our  journey  was  continued  up  the  Chesapeake 
Bay.  Annapolis  was  passed  at  one  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  of  the  22d,  and  about  three  o'clock  Baltimore  was 
reached.  As  the  vessel  drew  near  the  wharf  a  large 
crowd  of  people  was  noticed  gazing  curiously  at  us,  some 
of  whom  put  off  in  small  boats  and  inquired  if  we  were 
"Southern  prisoners."  The  temptation  to  indulge  in  a 
practical  joke,  at  the  expense  of  the  rebel  sympathizers, 
was  at  once  embraced.  We  replied  in  the  affirmative, 
and  gave  the  numbers  of  several  Georgia  and  South 
Carolina  regiments  as  being  represented  on  board.  The 
boats  returned  to  the  shore  and  we  soon  noticed  a  number 
of  people  leaving  the  crowd,  but  who  soon  after  returned 
with  baskets  and  packages,  filled  with  refreshments  for  the 
poor  "  Southern  prisoners."  By  this  time  the  vessel  had 
been  made  fast  to  the  dock,  and  our  "  friends  "  waited 
till  we  should  step  on  shore  before  bestowing  their 
bounty.  As  we  marched  down  the  gang-plank,  with 
colors  flying  and  arms  in  our  hands,  they  looked  aston 
ished  at  first,  and  then,  as  the  truth  gradually  broke  in 
upon  them,  they  tried  to  get  out  of  the  way.  But  the 
crowd,  too,  saw  the  joke,  and  burst  into  a  hearty  laugh 
at  their  discomfiture.  Baskets  and  packages  soon  disap 
peared. 

When  line  was  formed  an  order  from  General  Burn- 
side  was  read,  which  was  the  first  intimation  we  had  of 
our  destination.  The  purport  of  the  order  was,  that 


1863.  HARPERS   FERRY.  277 

inasmuch  as  we  were  to  pass  through  a  friendly  country 
to  our  destination,  he  hoped  we  would  conduct  ourselves 
as  gentlemen,  etc.  When  the  General  found  what  was 
expected  of  him  in  his  new  field  of  operations — the 
Department  of  the  Ohio  —  he  requested  that  the  corps 
might  be  sent  to  his  department,  and  as  we  were  lying 
idle  at  Newport  News  the  request  was  granted,  so  far  as 
the  two  divisions  were  concerned.  Getty's  division  had 
been  sent  to  Suffolk,  and  did  not  again  join  the  corps. 
Eastern  Kentucky  at  this  time  was  being  constantly 
raided  by  small  bodies  of  the  enemy  and  by  bushwhack 
ers,  and  the  green  troops  that  Burnside  was  then  form 
ing  into  what  was  afterwards  known  as  the  Twenty- 
third  corps  were  not  able  to  cope  with  Morgan  and  his 
rough  riders. 

We  found  a  train  of  freight  cars  in  waiting,  on  which 
the  Twentieth  Michigan  was  already  embarked  ;  the 
Highlanders  filled  the  remaining  cars,  and  by  five  o'clock 
the  train  was  moving  west  over  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Eailroad.  We  found  ourselves  very  much  crowded  ; 
board  seats  had  been  placed  in  the  cars,  and  while  there 
was  room  for  us  to  sit  down,  we  could  not  stretch 
ourselves  out  to  rest ;  the  ends  of  the  cars,  too,  were 
dark,  but  daylight  was  soon  admitted,  as  the  butts 
of  our  muskets  punched  holes  in  the  sheathing.  Ham 
mocks  were  improvised  from  our  blankets  and  slung 
from  the  sides  of  the  cars,  and  by  the  time  darkness  set 
tled  over  us  we  were  as  comfortable  as  our  cramped 
quarters  admitted.  Harpers  Ferry  was  reached  at  four 
o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  the  23d,  where  coffee 
and  fresh  bread  awaited  us.  It  was  so  dark  that  nothing 
could  be  seen  distinctly,  but  in  the  short  walk  from  the 
cars  to  where  the  rations  were  served  out  we  could  feel 
that  there  was  no  lack  of  mud.  By  the  fitful  glare  of  a 
few  camp-fires  could  be  dimly  seen  the  blackened  and 
ruined  walls  of  the  public  buildings  destroyed  during  the 


278  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  March, 

war;  but  "ten  minutes  for  refreshments"  soon  slipped 
by  and  the  train  pushed  on.  By  daylight  we  entered 
the  coal  regions  and  soon  passed  several  small  villages, 
seemingly  deserted.  The  country  was  blighted  ;  the  bor 
der  States  fared  badly  during  the  war,  no  family  being 
secure  in  the  possession  of  either  home  or  movable  prop 
erty.  One  army  entered  and  took  what  it  wanted,  the 
other  followed  and  secured  what  was  left,  and  the  inhab 
itants  were  ground  between  the  upper  and  nether  mill 
stones. 

At  Martinsburg  we  found  a  truly  "Deserted  Village." 
When  Jackson  and  Banks  were  playing  "tag "up  and 
down  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  this  town  was  almost 
totally  destroyed,  the  iron  railroad  bridge  was  blown  up, 
and  an  immense  amount  of  public  and  private  property 
given  to  the  flames.  Several  woe-begone  looking  citi 
zens,  who  still  clung  to  the  place,  gave  us  an  outline  of 
their  sufferings,  and  the  recital  made  our  hearts  ache. 
A  very  tender  chord  was  touched,  too,  when  little  child 
ren  were  seen  going  about  among  the  men,  begging  for 
crackers !  Poor  little  things  !  They  looked  the  very 
pictures  of  poverty  and  famine  !  How  they  smiled,  as 
some  generous,  big-hearted  soldier  emptied  the  contents 
of  his  haversack  into  their  aprons  or  skirts  of  their 
dresses,  and  told  them  to  ' '  hurry  home  with  that  and  then 
come  back  for  more."  No  doubt  the  thoughts  of  little 
ones  of  their  own,  in  their  comfortable  Northern  homes, 
made  our  men  feel  more  deeply  for  the  sufferings  of  the 
poor  ones  here. 

Our  progress  thus  far  had  been  very  slow ;  we  were 
less  than  a  hundred  miles  from  Baltimore ;  we  had  a 
long,  heavy  train  and  a  poor,  wheezing  engine,  and 
"hot  boxes"  caused  frequent  delays.  Five  miles  out  of 
Martinsburg  a  wash-out  was  encountered,  but  an  hour 
or  two's  hard  work,  by  as  many  men  as  could  be  used  to 
advantage,  repaired  the  damage.  Parkersburg,  on  the 


1863.  "ANIMATED  WATER  FALLS."  279' 

Ohio  river,  was  reached  at  five  o'clock  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  24th,  and  there,  among  a  fleet  of  vessels,  we  found 
the  steamer  Majestic,  to  which  the  Highlanders  were 
soon  transferred.  These  Western  river  boats  were  a 
novelty  to  the  most  of  us  ;  flat  bottomed,  broad  of  beam, 
bow  and  stern  rounded  alike,  and  with  upper  works  that 
towered  above  the  hull  like  the  stories  of  a  house,  were 
new  to  us  New  Yorkers,  who  had  been  accustomed  to 
the  sharp  prows  and  graceful  lines  of  our  Hudson  river 
or  Sound  steamers.  But  if  these  side-wheelers  looked 
strange,  what  shall  be  said  of  the  little  stern -wheelers  ? 
They  looked,  as  some  one  expressed  it,  like  "animated 
water  falls,"  moving  about  from  place  to  place,  forcing 
before  them  the  flat  bottomed  hull,  so  light  of  draught 
that  it  has  been  said  they  could  "sail  on  a  heavy  dew." 
The  Second  and  Twentieth  Michigan  were  assigned 
quarters  with  the  Highlanders  on  the  Majestic  —  rightly 
named  —  for  she  was  by  far  the  largest  and  handsomest 
boat.  We  found  ample  room  on  her  broad  decks,  and  at 
ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  lines  were  cast  off  and  we 
moved  down  stream.  Before  retiring  for  the  night  the 
boat  was  thoroughly  inspected,  as  were  also  the  two 
horizontal  engines,  one  on  either  side  of  the  boat,  each 
independent  of  the  other,  moving  a  paddle  wheel,  so  that 
by  "going  ahead"  with  one  and  "backing"  with  the 
other  the  boat  might  be  turned  as  if  hung  on  a  pivot. 
The  river  was  quite  narrow  and  the  water  of  a  yellow, 
muddy  color,  and  we  found  it  was  used  to  make  both 
steam  and  coffee  ;  it  tasted  better  than  it  looked,  how 
ever.  Early  the  next  morning  we  were  astir  and  watch 
ing  the  shore  on  either  hand  for  new  and  interesting 
sights.  Several  villages  on  the  Ohio  shore  were  passed, 
the  names  of  which  were  painted  on  sign  posts,  stuck  in 
the  ground  near  the  water's  edge  ;  the  villages  them 
selves,  for  obvious  reasons,  being  located  some  distance 
back.  It  was  no  uncommon  occurrence  for  the  river, 


280  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  March, 

during  high  water,  to  take  off  a  slice  of  territory,  large 
enough  for  a  farm,  and  carry  it  down  stream,  to  be 
deposited,  perhaps,  on  the  opposite  shore  at  some  con 
venient  point.  Considerable  enthusiasm  was  manifested 
by  the  inhabitants  as  we  passed  by,  which  was  responded 
to  by  those  on  board.  But  little  was  seen  011  the  Virginia 
shore. 

We  left  Parkersburg  under  orders  to  report  to  General 
Burnside  at  Cincinnati,  where  we  expected  to  land  and 
partake  of  the  hospitality  of  the  people  there,  but  on 
reaching  that  city,  about  midnight,  we  found  that  orders 
had  been  issued  forbidding  the  landing  of  any  more 
troops,  and  that  all  possible  haste  must  be  made  to  reach 
Louisville.  Stopping  only  long  enough  to  coal  up,  we 
proceeded  on  our  way,  greatly  disappointed  in  not  being 
able  to  partake  of  the  collation  prepared  for  the  High 
landers  by  the  owner  of  the  Gibson  House,  and  other 
friends  of  the  regiment. 

Daylight  of  the  26th  found  us  moving  rapidly  down 
stream,  and  a  little  before  noon  the  black  smoke  rising 
from  Louisville's  many  chimneys  proclaimed  that  our 
river  journey  was  nearly  ended,  and  on  rounding  a  bend 
in  the  river  the  city  itself  lay  before  us.  Very  little  atten 
tion  was  paid  by  the  citizens  to  our  landing  ;  no  doubt 
it  had  become  an  old  story  with  the  people,  and  yet 
we  were  not  forgotten,  for  on  marching  to  the  rooms  of 
the  Soldiers'  Eelief  Association,  we  found  that  a  bounti 
ful  collation  had  been  provided.  After  partaking  of  this, 
and  giving  three  rousing  cheers — proposed  by  our  brigade 
commander,  General  Poe  —  ' '  for  the  loyal  women  of 
Louisville, "  we  marched  through  Broadway  to  the  eastern 
outskirts  of  the  city,  where  our  shelter-tents  were  pitched. 
The  men  were  soon  busily  engaged  in  washing  and  clean 
ing  up  generally.  Without  waiting  for  tattoo,  most  of 
the  men  laid  down  for  a  good  night's  rest,  but  a  few, 
whose  pockets  were  not  quite  empty,  went  into  town  to 


,1863.  UNFORTUNATE   EPISODE.  281 

"see  the  elephant,"  and  took  all  night  to  observe  the 
animal. 

On  Friday  morning,  the  27th,  a  few  more  went  down 
to  look  for  their  comrades,  although  the  Paymaster  was 
about,  and  they  were  warned  not  to  absent  themselves. 
Their  disgust  can  be  imagined  when,  on  returning  in  the 
evening,  they  found  those  who  had  remained  in  camp 
handling  the  four  months'  pay,  just  received,  and  the 
Paymaster  gone.  Their  comrades  were  generous,  how 
ever,  and  the  unfortunate  ones  soon  borrowed  enough  to 
tide  them  over.  Colonel  Morrison,  w^ell  knowing  what 
the  consequences  would  be  if  the  men  were  paid  off  while 
so  near  the  city,  had  vainly  endeavored  to  persuade  the 
Paymaster  to  wait  until  the  troops  moved  further  south 
on  their  journey.  The  consequences  were  deplorable  in 
the  extreme.  Although  a  strong  guard  had  been  placed 
about  the  camp  in  the  afternoon,  and  no  passes  were 
granted,  yet,  before  midnight,  the  majority  of  the  men 
found  their  way  into  the  city.  It  would  be  merciful,  per 
haps,  to  draw  the  curtain  over  this,  a  most  unfortunate 
episode  in  the  career  of  the  Highlanders.  The  "scarlet 
woman  "  was  abroad  in  the  city,  and  between  this  Scylla, 
and  the  Charybdis  of  Rum,  few  who  went  into  town  that 
night  escaped  suffering,  either  in  pocket  or  person  ;  some 
were  even  swallowed  up  and  never  appeared  in  the  regi 
ment  again. 

On  the  morning  of  Saturday,  the  28th,  while  the  men 
in  camp  were  packing  up,  preparatory  to  moving,  the 
place  was  filled  with  peddlers,  who,  having  heard  of  the 
paymaster's  presence,  were  ready  to  take  their  share  of 
the  soldiers'  money.  Our  officers  were  vigilant,  and 
many  a  bottle  of  whiskey,  found  beneath  an  innocent 
layer  of  biscuit  or  cookies,  was  confiscated  and  the  ven 
der  ignomiiiiously  ejected,  or  sent  to  the  guard-house. 
During  the  forenoon  many  of  the  revellers  returned  to 
€amp  in  carriages ;  being  in  no  condition  to  walk,  they 


282 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS. 


March,- 


were  escorted  by  their  frail  companions,  who,  now  that 
the  soldiers'  money  was  in  their  possession,  had  no  fur 
ther  use  for  the  poor  inebriates,  yet  mercifully  conducted 
them  safe  (?)  to  camp.  As  evening  approached,  we  still 
remained  in  camp,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  a  collision 
on  the  railroad  was  the  cause  of  the  delay.  This  gave 


our  provost -guard  time  to  scour  the  city,  and  pick  up  a 
few  more  of  the  stragglers. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  with  the  Eighth 
Michigan,  we  marched  to  the  station,  and  were  soon  on 
our  way  to  Lebanon,  where  we  arrived  about  five  o'clock 


1863.  SHIVERING  WITH  COLD.  283 

in  the  afternoon.  Here  we  found  the  inhabitants  con 
siderably  excited  over  the  advance  of  the  enemy  under 
Morgan  and  Wagner,  who  were  reported  in  possession  of 
Danville,  about  thirty  miles  distant  to  the  north-east. 
Horses  and  cattle  were  being  driven  in  by  the  farmers 
from  the  surrounding  country,  and  hurried  towards 
Louisville.  Our  presence  soon  reassured  the  people,  how 
ever,  and  when  they  saw  the  Second,  Seventeenth  and 
Twentieth  Michigan,  under  General  Poe,  march  off 
towards  the  threatened  point,  and  the  Eighth  Michigan 
and  Highlanders  left  behind  to  take  care  of  the  town, 
confidence  was  once  more  restored.  Thinking  it  not 
worth  while  to  put  up  our  shelter-tents,  we  bivouacked 
in  an  open  field  near  the  station,  and  the  experience  of 
one  of  our  number  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  way  in  which 
many  of  us  spent  the  night.  "At  tattoo  the  weather 
was  mild  and  the  ground  quite  soft.  I  spread  my  rub 
ber  blanket  on  the  ground  and  rolled  my  woolen  one 
about  me,  drew  my  cap  down  over  my  ears,  and  placing 
my  knapsack  under  my  head  for  a  pillow,  laid  down  and 
was  soon  asleep.  During  the  night  the  weather  suddenly 
changed,  and  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  awoke 
shivering  with  cold  ;  my  teeth  were  chattering  and  limbs 
aching.  I  noticed  several  men  about  the  camp-fire  try 
ing  to  warm  themselves,  and  proceeded  to  join  them,  but 
on  trying  to  pick  up  my  knapsack  and  rubber  blanket, 
found  they  were  both  frozen  fast  to  the  ground,  and  there 
I  was  obliged  to  leave  them  until  the  morning  sun  thawed 
them  out.  The  cooks  were  up  early,  and  after  getting 
down  a  quart  of  steaming  hot  coffee,  I  too  was  suffi 
ciently  thawed  out  to  live,  move,  and  have  a  being. "  Ice 
had  formed  nearly  half  an  inch  thick,  and  the  night  was 
voted  the  coldest  we  had  ever  experienced  in  an  open 
bivouac. 

After  breakfast  we  marched  to  the  camp -ground  lately 
occupied  by  the  Sixteenth  Kentucky,  who  had  gone  to 


284:  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  April, 

the  front,  and  whose  quarters  we  were  to  occupy  till 
their  return.  Colonel  Morrison  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  post,  and  Captain  Belcher  of  the  Eighth  Michigan 
was  made  Provost  Marshal.  Four  or  five  passes  were 
granted  to  each  coHipany  daily,  the  men  conducted  them 
selves  in  a  gentlemanly  manner,  and  the  regiment  was 
soon  in  great  favor  with  the  townspeople.  By  the  4th 
of  April  the  enemy  had  been  driven  beyond  the  Cumber 
land  Eiver,  and  the  troops  began  to  return  from  the  front. 
General  Manson  relieved  Colonel  Morrison  of  the  com 
mand  of  the  post,  and  when  General  Poe  arrived,  a  brig 
ade  camp  was  formed  and  the  Highlanders  took  their 
place  in  that  body.  Thirty  of  our  comrades,  who  had 
been  left  behind,  ' i  absent  without  leave, "  at  Louisville, 
also  joined  the  regiment,  and  the  men  soon  began  to  feel 
the  influence  of  the  firm,  yet  kindly  supervision  of  our 
commanding  officer. 

Company,  battalion  and  brigade  drills,  with  the  usual 
picket  and  guard  duty,  kept  us  well  employed  during  the 
remainder  of  our  stay  at  this  pleasant  town.  While  on 
picket  we  made  the  acquaintance  of  many  of  the  farmers 
in  the  vicinity,  and  learned  a  good  deal  about  their  habits 
and  mode  of  life.  It  may  have  been  owing  to  the  peculiar 
condition  of  affairs  at  that  time  —  when,  sowing  in 
the  spring,  the  husbandman  had  no  assurance  of  being 
able  to  harvest  his  crop,  or  of  its  being  allowed  to 
grow  to  maturity  —  that  their  operations  seemed  to 
be  carried  on  in  a  manner  that  would  have  driven 
a  New  England  farmer  into  bankruptcy  in  a  single 
season.  But  the  needs  of  these  simple  people  were  few, 
and  if  they  obtained  enough  k'hog  and  hominy  "  to  eat, 
a  little  good  "bourbon  "  to  drink,  and  Kentucky  jeans  to 
wear,  they  were  satisfied.  One  old  citizen  in  particular, 
paid  frequent  visits  to  our  camp.  He  was  a  staunch 
Union  man  and  had  one  or  two  sons  in  our  army.  He 
was  missed  for  awhile,  and  on  his  revisiting  the  camp, 


1863.  GRAND   ENTERTAINMENT.  285 

was  asked  the  cause  of  his  absence  ;  he  replied  that  he 
had  heen  sick,  was  ' '  some  better  now,  but  powerful  weak 
yet."  One  evening,  while  on  picket,  a  few  of  us  were 
entertained  by  a  couple  of  darkies,  with  banjo  playing, 
songs  and  dances,  but  as  our  ideas  of  plantation  melodies 
had  been  formed  by  what  we  had  seen  and  heard  at 
Christy's  or  Bryant's  in  New  York,  we  failed  to  apprfe- 
ciate  the  efforts  of  our  entertainers,  although  the  poor 
fellows  did  their  best. 

The  U.  S.  Senate  having  failed  to  confirm  the  appoint 
ment  of  Colonel  Poe  as  Brigadier-General,  that  officer 
now  resigned,  and  returned  to  his  position  in  the  Engi 
neer  corps,  and  was  placed  on  General  Burnside's  staff 
as  chief  of  that  department,  with  rank  of  Captain. 
Colonel  Morrison  assumed  command  of  the  brigade,  and 
his  place  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  was  ably  filled  by 
Lieutenant -Colonel  More.  On  the  9th  General  Manson 
reviewed  all  the  troops  stationed  at  Lebanon,  and  the 
Highlanders  received  a  good  share  of  the  compliments  of 
the  reviewing  officer.  In  the  evening  a  large  portion  of 
the  regiment  were  allowed  to  attend  an  "  Old  Folks'  Con 
cert,"  given  by  a  traveling  company  ;  and  on  the  14th  a 
"Variety  Entertainment,"  which  filled  the  hall  to  over 
flowing  at  twenty-five  cents  a  ticket,  suggested  to  our 
drum  corps  that  if  people  would  flock  to  see  such  a 
"one-horse  show,"  they  would  get  up  something  worth 
listening  to.  They  began  at  once  to  rehearse,  and  in  the 
course  of  a  week,  flaming  posters  and  small  hand-bills 
announced  for  the  evening  of  the  23d,  a 

GRAND  ENTERTAINMENT 

BY   THE 

DRUM  CORPS 

OF    THE 

SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS, 

N.  Y.  VOLS., 

For  the  Benefit  of  the  Military  Hospital. 
Admission  25  cents.  Reserved  Seats  50  cents. 


286  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

When  the  evening  arrived,  Shuck's  Hall  was  packed, 
and  the  boys  gave  a  very  creditable  performance,  which 
consisted  of  martial  music,  pantomimes,  songs  and 
dances.  About  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  was 
realized  for  the  charitable  object ;  and  " by  request" — so 
the  bills  stated — the  program  was  repeated  on  the  follow 
ing  evening,  for  their  own  benefit — that  of  procuring 
new  uniforms,  and  the  boys  were  gratified  by  securing 
over  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  that  purpose. 

Soldiers  are  not  more  easily  satisfied  with  their  sur 
roundings  than  are  people  in  civil  life.  When  in  active 
service  we  often  wished  for  a  quiet  life  in  camp  ;  and, 
now  that  we  had  been  enjoying  such  a  life  less  than  two 
weeks,  we  began  to  long  for  a  change.  We  were  not  par 
ticular  what — a  scout,  skirmish  or  reconnoissance — and 
our  desire  was  soon  gratified.  On  Sunday,  the  26th, 
three  days'  rations  were  issued,  and  orders,  requiring  us 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  three  o'clock  on  the  following 
morning,  put  us  all  in  good  humor.  At  five  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  27th  we  were  on  the  road,  in  heavy 
marching  order,  headed  South.  The  day  was  warm,  our 
knapsacks  heavy,  and  having  been  in  camp  so  long  we 
were  soon  fagged  out,  and  all  extra  clothing  was  thrown 
away  to  lighten  our  loads.  We  halted  within  two  miles 
of  Campbellsville,  where  we  bivouacked  for  the  night. 
Daylight  of  the  28th  found  us  up  again,  and  after  par 
taking  of  a  good  breakfast  of  beef -steak,  broiled  on  our 
ramrods  over  the  fire,  coffee  and  crackers,  the  march  was 
resumed.  We  had  our  marching  legs  on  by  this  time, 
and  at  noon  reached  Green  Eiver.  The  bridge  had  been 
destroyed,  so  we  forded  the  stream,  and  camped  on  the 
high  bluffs  on  the  southern  bank.  During  our  stay 
here,  which  lasted  till  the  llth  of  May,  we  were  busily 
employed.  Colonel  Morrison  wrote  to  the  district  com 
mander,  General  Boyle,  offering  a  detail  from  the  High 
landers  to  rebuild  the  bridge,  which  being  accepted,  the 


1863.  SECOND   ANNIVERSARY.  287 

work  began  as  soon  as  the  tools  arrived.  When  the  regi 
ment  moved,  the  detail  remained  to  finish  their  work, 
during  which  time  they  were  attacked  by  a  force  of  Mor 
gan's  cavalry  ;  but  with  the  assistance  of  a  detachment 
from  the  Twenty-Fifth  Michigan,  they  succeeded  in 
driving  them  off,  and  completed  their  work  before  return 
ing  to  the  regiment.  While  at  Green  River  a  number  of 
furloughs  were  granted,  the  fortunate  holders  making 
their  way  North  via  Lebanon  and  Louisville.  Heavy 
rains  during  the  5th,  f>th  and  7th  raised  the  river  some 
six  feet,  when  it  became  a  rushing  torrent  and  interfered 
seriously  with  the  bridge  builders. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth  the  Highlanders,  with  the 
Second  Michigan,  left  camp  in  light  marching  order,  for 
the  purpose  of  reinforcing  the  other  regiments  of  the 
brigade,  who  had  been  attacked  by  the  enemy  at  James 
town,  a  village  near  the  Cumberland  River.  Columbia 
was  reached — a  distance  of  fourteen  miles — in  four  hours, 
where  we  learned  that  the  enemy  had  been  driven  back 
across  the  Cumberland,  by  the  Twentieth  Michigan  and 
Colonel  Jacobs'  Kentucky  Cavalry.  Nothing  further  of 
importance  occurred  during  the  afternoon  or  the  next 
day. 

On  the  18th  we  celebrated  the  second  anniversary  of 
our  term  of  service,  and  a  ration  of  whiskey  led  many 
of  the  men  to  think  that  the  occasion  was  properly 
observed.  In  the  afternoon  reports  from  the  front 
caused  us  to  form  line  of  battle  ;  but  as  the  enemy  did 
not  appear,  we  stacked  arms  and  awaited  further  devel 
opments.  At  tattoo  all  was  quiet,  and  the  men  lay  down 
to  sleep  and  were  not  disturbed  till  three  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  when  we  were  formed  in  line, 
remaining  so  till  daylight.  Nothing  special  occurred  till 
the  18th,  when  reports  of  the  enemy's  advance,  confirmed 
later  in  the  day  by  the  arrival  of  farmers,  driving  their 
stock  before  them,  led  us  to  believe  that  a  fight  was  near 


288 


SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS. 


May, 


at  hand.  We  filled  our  cartridge  boxes  and  prepared  for 
action,  but  night  came  without  any  further  news  of  the 
rebels. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th  the  Third  brigade  arrived 
from  Middlebury,  and  at  seven  o'clock  the  next  evening 
our  brigade  started  for  "Jimtown."  About  two  miles 
out  we  met  a  squad  of  horsemen,  bearing  a  flag  of  truce. 
We  were  drawn  up  in  line,  and  flankers  thrown  out,  to 
guard  against  any  surprise  or  trick  of  the  enemy.  Our 


"  Look  here,  Gin'ral  ;  nights  are  cold.  We're  tired  of  sleeping  out  in  the 
swamp,  with  nothing  to  eat,  and  that  sort  of  thing  ;  so  we  want  to  go  in  for 
the  Union,  and  have  our  meals  regular."  « 

visitors  proved  to  be  some  of  Morgan's  men,  who  had 
become  "tired  of  fighting  for  the  Confederates,"  and 
wished  to  give  themselves  up.  They  told  some  tough 


,863.  THE  BUTTERNUTS.  289 

stories  of  their  hardships  and  sufferings  in  Rebeldom, 
and  said  they  believed  the  Southern  Cause  was  hopeless. 
They  had  been  conscripted  and  pressed  into  the  rebel 
service,  much  against  their  will,  and  embraced  the  first 
opportunity  for  leaving  that  service.  Very  little  credence 
was  placed  in  their  story,  but  they  were  sent  to  the  care 
of  the  Provost  Marshal  at  Columbia,  and  we  continued 
our  march.  It  was  a  beautiful  evening  ;  the  moon  was 
full,  and  we  enjoyed  the  march  in  the  cool  night  air. 
We  marched  thirteen  miles  that  evening  and  bivouacked 
in  a  field  by  the  roadside,  our  cavalry  forming  a  line  of 
videttes,  the  infantry  an  inner  line  of  pickets  ;  and  thus 
we  rested  till  the  morning  of  the  28th.  "Jimtown"  was 
reached  early  in  the  forenoon,  where  the  infantry  halted, 
while  the  cavalry  pushed  on  to  the  river,  four  miles 
beyond.  They  soon  came  in  sight  of  a  body  of  the 
enemy,  who  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  our  men  galloping 
after,  and  coming  within  rifle  shot  just  as  the  "Butter 
nuts  "  were  crossing  the  river.  A  lively  fire  was  opened 
by  our  men,  and  several  of  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded. 
Several  prisoners  were  captured — among  them  the  Cap 
tain  of  the  rebel  troop — who  were  brought  back  to  town 
by  our  victorious  troopers. 

During  the  absence  of  the  cavalry,  Colonel  Morrison 
had  formed  the  infantry  on  a  commanding  position  near 
the  town,  and  the  two  guns  brought  with  us  were  placed 
in  battery  commanding  the  approaches.  The  cavalry 
returned  about  dusk  and  reported  the  enemy  all  across 
the  river,  and  not  likely  to  trouble  us  that  night.  The 
weather  looked  quite  threatening  at  this  time,  and  those 
who  had  shelter-tents  put  them  up,  while  the  others 
sought  cover  in  the  barns  and  outbuildings  near  by  ;  the 
latter  were  the  more  fortunate,  for  about  ten  o'clock 
rain  began  to  fall,  and  continued  without  intermission 
during  the  night.  Regarding  the  appearance  of  the 
town,  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  at  the  time  will 

19 


200  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

suffice:  "Jamestown,  or,  as  the  natives  call  it,  'Jim- 
town,'  while  a  smaller  place  than  Columbia,  is  a  much 
prettier  place  naturally,  but  it  was  almost  deserted. 
Those  families  who  could  afford  to,  had  moved  to  Louis 
ville,  or  other  points  within  our  permanent  lines,  leaving 
their  property  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  troopers  of 
both  armies.  There  are  two  hotels,  or  taverns, 

in  the  place,  but  no  guests  ;  a  court  house,  but  no  ses 
sions  of  court,  either  circuit  or  local ;  three  or  four  stores, 
but  no  merchandise  ;  a  church,  but  neither  pastor  nor 
congregation.  Very  little  farm  work  had  been  attempted, 
or  was  possible,  as  nearly  all  the  horses  and  stock  had 
been  driven  off.  What  can  be  more  dreary  or  desolate 
than  such  a  place  ?  " 

The  morning  of  Friday,  the  29th,  found  us  much 
refreshed  by  a  good  night's  rest.  Our  cavalry  videttes 
reported  that  several  small  bodies  of  the  enemy  had  been 
observed  hovering  about  the  outposts,  and  after  break 
fast  they  were  sent  out  to  scour  the  neighborhood  and 
go  as  far  as  the  river ;  they  succeeded  in  capturing  five 
more  of  the  ''Butternuts,"  whom  they  brought  into 
town  and  lodged  in  the  jail.  Several  scouting  parties  of 
infantry  were  also  sent  out,  who  secured  several  prison 
ers,  two  of  whom  were  captured  within  a  hundred  yards 
of  one  of  our  outposts.  One  of  these  latter  said  he  had 
"  drawn  a  bead  "  on  one  of  our  pickets,  but  was  afraid  to 
fire  lest  he  should  be  chased  so  hard  that  he  could  not 
escape  ;  he  thought  that  if  captured  he  would  be  hung, 
or,  as  he  expressed  it,  ' '  Capture  sure,  and  hanging  cer 
tain."  This  fellow  was  only  sixteen  years  old,  and  yet 
was  said  to  be  "the  greatest  horse -thief  in  Russell 
county."  When  taken  he  was  riding  a  handsome  stal 
lion,  worth  at  least  five  hundred  dollars,  that  he  had 
stolen  from  a  farmer  who  lived  about  a  mile  from  town. 
This  prisoner  was  a  sample  of  the  guerillas  that  infested 
the  borders  during  the  war.  Many  of  them  were  doubt- 


1863.  "GO  ON."-    "KEEP  UP."  291 

less  regularly  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service,  but  the 
majority  were  mere  bushwhackers,  who  took  advantage 
of  the  unsettled  times  to  prey  on  the  people  ;  rebels  or 
Unionists,  it  made  no  difference  to  them  so  long  as  plun 
der  could  be  obtained. 

Rain  fell  at  intervals  during  the  day,  and  towards 
night  it  came  down  in  torrents  ;  the  unfortunate  ones 
on  picket  duty  were  to  be  pitied.  On  the  morning  of 
the  30th,  however,  the  sun  rose  bright  and  clear,  with 
prospects  of  a  fine  day.  Company  K,  which  had  been 
on  picket  during  the  night,  was  relieved  by  Company  B, 
but  just  as  the  latter  were  preparing  a  good  dinner,  from 
some  produce  that  had  been  obtained  as  the  result  of  a 
successful  forage,  a  company  from  one  of  the  regiments 
of  the  Third  brigade  relieved  them,  and  the  Highlanders 
rejoined  the  regiment,  which  they  found  in  line  ready  to 
march  back  to  Columbia.  Just  as  we  started,  the  sky, 
which  had  been  for  some  time  overcast,  assumed  a  more 
leaden  hue,  and  the  thunder  began  to  roll  —  all  betoken 
ing  another  violent  rain  storm.  We  thought  of  the 
eighteen  miles'  march,  and  wished  ourselves  back  in  the 
barns  at  Jamestown.  Two  miles  out  the  storm  broke 
over  us  in  all  its  fury  ;  the  rain  came  down  in  a  perfect 
deluge,  wetting  us  to  the  skin  almost  instantly.  There 
was  no  shelter  at  hand,  and  even  if  there  had  been  we 
could  not  have  availed  ourselves  of  it,  as  our  orders  were 
imperative  —  to  report  at  Columbia  without  delay. 

The  rains  of  the  previous  days  had  rendered  the  road 
soft  and  muddy  ;  now  it  became  miry  and  slushy.  The 
soil  was  a  heavy  red  clay,  which  stuck  to  our  shoes  and 
made  the  traveling  laborious.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
excitement  produced  by  the  double-quick  step,  and  those 
in  the  rear  shouting  "go  on,"  while  those  in  front  called 
to  those  behind  them  to  "keep  up,"  it  would  have  been 
difficult  for  us  to  have  gotten  along  at  all.  At  a  point 
about  ten  miles  from  Jamestown  —  having  made  that 


292  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

distance  without  a  halt  —  we  stopped  long  enough  to  boil 
a  cup  of  coffee,  after  which  the  march  was  resumed. 
Although  the  rain  had  almost  ceased,  darkness  soon 
made  it  impossible  to  pick  our  steps,  and  we  were  com 
pelled  to  wade  through  it  all,  splash,  splash,  like  a  drove 
of  cattle.  Occasionally  a  man  would  lose  his  footing  and 
measure  his  length  in  the  soft  mud,  his  companions 
crowding  and  almost  trampling  upon  him  before  he 
could  regain  his  feet.  Many  of  the  men,  unable  to  keep 
up,  were  compelled  to  drop  out  and  rest  ;  our  clothing 
clung  to  our  bodies,  chafing  the  skin  and  rendering  us 
very  uncomfortable.  Camp  was  reached  about  nine 
o'clock,  when  dry  clothing  and  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  made 
us  feel  better,  after  which  we  laid  our  weary  limbs  down 
to  rest.  The  stragglers  kept  coming  in  during  the  night, 
while  many  did  not  put  in  an  appearance  till  daylight 
the  next  morning. 

On  the  1st  of  June  the  Eighth  Michigan  and  the  High 
landers  were  ordered  to  report  to  Colonel  Morrison  for 
detached  service.  What  a  charm  this  "  detached  "  ser 
vice  had  for  the  men  when  they  were  engaged  in  an 
arduous  campaign  !  Visions  of  garrison  or  provost  duty 
at  some  comfortable  place  flitted  before  our  imagina 
tion  ;  we  thought  we  were  in  for  a  "big  thing,"  and  were 
correspondingly  elated.  Our  "castles  in  the  air"  soon 
tumbled  down,  however,  for  on  the  morning  of  the 
4th  the  whole  brigade  was  ordered  to  hold  itself  in 
readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice.  At  six 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  left  Columbia,  in  heavy 
marching  order,  and  at  two  o'clock  the  following  morn 
ing  reached  our  old  camp  at  Green  Eiver ;  here  we 
had  a  short  nap,  and  at  five  o'clock  were  off  again.  The 
roads  were  in  good  condition,  and  at  six  in  the  afternoon 
we  halted  for  the  night,  within  eleven  miles  of  Lebanon. 
Daylight  of  the  Oth  found  us  on  the  road  again,  and  the 
town  was  reached  at  nine  o'clock.  A  party  of  the  regi- 


1 863.  MOVED  WEST.  293 

ment  took  possession  of  the  "Alhambra,"  and  having 
plenty  of  money  in  their  pockets,  enjoyed  a  "good, 
square  meal,"  with  all  the  "fixins."  At  three  P.  M.  we 
left  on  the  cars  and  reached  Louisville  at  eleven.  Here 
again  a  number  of  the  men  remained  behind  for  another 
spree,  while  the  good  boys,  about  midnight,  followed  the 
command  over  to  Jeffersonville,  where  cars  were  in  wait 
ing,  on  which  we  embarked,  and  at  daylight  the  train 
moved  west. 


294  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  June, 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  VICKSBURG  CAMPAIGN. 

CAUSE  of  the  Sudden  Movement. — By  Rail  to  Cairo. — Entertainment  by  the 
Way.— Burnside's  Peripatetic  Geography  Class. — Cairo. — Perils  of  Mississippi 
Travel. — Young's  Point  and  the  Canal. — Vicksburg. — Negro  Refugees. — Up 
the  Yazoo. — Milldale. — In  the  Trenches. — The  Michigan  Piper. — An  Excur 
sion  up  the  Yazoo. — Flower  Hill. — What  General  Sherman  Said. — The  Sur 
render. — Orders  to  Pursue  Johnston. 

T  1  7HY  this  sudden  movement  to  the  west  ?  On  the 
^  *  3rd  of  June,  General  Burnside,  who  was  at  Lex 
ington,  expecting  to  start  on  the  following  morning  on 
the  march  over  the  Cumberland  mountains  into  East 
Tennessee,  for  the  deliverance  of  that  loyal  territory 
from  rebel  rule,  received  dispatches  from  Washington, 
saying  that  General  Grant  was  greatly  in  need  of  troops 
to  assist  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  inquiring  what 
troops  could  be  spared  from  his  department.  Burnside's 
plans  had  been  prepared  in  conjunction  with  Eosecraiis 
and  Thomas,  and  this  new  and  unexpected  call  was  a  sad 
blow  to  his  hopes  and  aspirations  ;  but  Burnside  was  a 
patriot,  first,  last  and  always.  He  might  have  sent  the 
Twenty-Third  corps,  then  newly  organized,  but  apprecia 
ting  the  work  that  would  be  required  at  such  a  place  as 
Vicksburg,  he  promptly  replied  that  he  would  not  only 
send  the  Ninth  corps,  but  that  he  would  also  accompany 
it  himself.  The  Government  would  not  listen  to  his 
leaving  his  own  department,  however,  so  the  two  divi 
sions,  under  command  of  General  John  G.  Parke,  were 
sent,  and  Burnside  waited  patiently  till  their  return 
before  putting  his  own  plans  into  operation. 


1 863.  GEOGRAPHY  CLASS.  295 

At  nearly  every  stopping  place  on  our  westward  jour 
ney  the  people  gathered  at  the  stations,  received  us 
enthusiastically  and  treated  us  generously.  At  Seymour, 
which  was  reached  at  eleven  o'clock,  coffee  and  cakes  were 
distributed,  and  at  Washington,  Indiana,  where  we 
arrived  at  five  in  the  afternoon,  we  received  a  perfect 
ovation.  The  vicinity  of  the  station  had  the  appearance 
of  a  fair-ground  ;  the  citizens  were  there,  arrayed  in 
holiday  attire,  the  female  portion  displaying  the  red, 
white  and  blue  in  many  and  pleasing  devices.  A  bounti 
ful  collation  was  served,  to  which  we  did  ample  justice, 
after  which  some  speechmaking  was  indulged  in ;  then 
the  drum  corps  serenaded  our  hosts,  and  just  as  we  were 
about  to  reenter  the  cars  bouquets  were  distributed  by 
the  ladies.  Verses  from  patriotic  songs  or  loyal  senti 
ments  were  written  on  cards  attached  to  the  bouquets, 
and  in  each  case  the  donor's  name  was  appended.  After 
giving  three-times-three  hearty  cheers  for  the  loyal  and 
generous  women  of  Washington  our  journey  was  re 
sumed.  When  the  flowers  we  received  had  withered 
and  been  forgotten,  the  cards  containing  the  sentiments 
and  names  of  the  fair  ones  were  no  doubt  preserved,  for 
it  was  noticed  that  the  mail-bag  leaving  the  regiment 
contained  many  letters  bearing  female  addresses,  and 
directed  "Washington,  Ind." 

Half -past  three  o'clock  on  the  following  morning, 
Monday,  the  8th,  found  us  at  Sandoval,  111.,  where  we 
changed  cars  to  the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  and  at  eight 
o'clock  reached  Centralia,  where  we  had  breakfast.  We 
were  now  on  the  broad  prairies  —  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach,  north,  south,  east  and  west,  the  land  was  as  level 
as  a  floor.  Burnside's  "Peripatetic  Geography  Class," 
as  the  corps  was  now  called  —  and  it  certainly  deserved 
the  designation  —  was  fast  becoming  proficient  in  both 
political  and  physical  geography.  Our  first  lesson  was 
taken  among  the  hills  and  valleys  of  Virginia  ;  then  we 


206  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

were  "  promoted  "  to  the  sea  coast  and  swamp  islands  of 
the  South  ;  back  again  for  review  to  Virginia  ;  then  into 
Maryland,  where  we  studied  the  rugged  slopes  and 
stone  walls  of  South  Mountain,  arid  the  heights  and 
hollows  of  Antietam  ;  then  for  a  winter's  course  among 
the  snow  and  mud  of  Virginia  again.  Our  next  course 
took  us  through  the  Blue  Grass  region  of  Kentucky,  and 
along  its  many  water  courses,  where  we  had  an  oppor 
tunity  of  dipping  into  geology  and  mineralogy,  hy  exam 
ining  the  caves  and  picking  up  the  petrifactions  found  in 
the  beds  of  the  streams  in  the  lime-stone  region.  We 
had  now  entered  ''Egypt,'1  but  instead  of  the  pyramids 
the  deep  alluvial  soil  of  the  prairies  was  a  curiosity,  and 
now  we  were  fast  approaching  the  great  artery  of  the 
continent,  the  Mississippi,  and  would  doubtless  soon 
learn  something  of  the  "  Father  of  Waters,"  and  the 
islands  and  bluffs  that  dotted  its  surface  or  lined  its 
shores.  The  Yazoo,  that  "River  of  Death,"  the  Big 
Black,  with  its  miasmatic  and  poisonous  banks  and  low 
lands,  were  yet  in  store  for  us. 

While  waiting  to  enter  the  cars  at  Centralia,  the  sign  : 
"Strawberries  and  Cream,"  displayed  in  a  shop  window, 
proved  an  alluring  temptation,  and  the  shopkeeper's 
heart  was  gladdened  by  the  loose  change  left  in  return 
for  those  toothsome  and  unusual  luxuries.  We  reached 
Cairo  at  five  P.  M.  —  Cairo,  the  City  of  Magnificent 
Expectations,  destined  by  its  founders  to  be  the  metrop 
olis  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Situated  at  the  junction 
of  two  great  rivers,  what  was  to  prevent  its  becoming 
the  principal  city?  Its  very  location  ;  for  one  night  the 
great  river  carried  off  a  huge  slice  of  its  territory,  and 
the  next  covered  the  original  site  with  its  turbid  waters. 
So  the  great  city  is  yet  in  embryo  ;  but  it  formed  a  very 
good  depot  as  a  base  for  military  operations.  We  found 
that  most  of  the  corps  had  preceded  us.  The  steamboat 
Edward  Walsh  received  the  Highlanders,  and  at  nine 


•1863.  POLE   HER   OFF."  297 

o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  our  southward  journey 
was  continued. 

Columbus,  Ky.,  was  passed  at  noon,  and  Island  Num 
ber  Ten  at  five  P.  M.  ,  and  at  half -past  seven  the  boat  was 
tied  up  for  the  night  at  a  wood-pile.  The  shore  on  either 
side  being  infested  by  guerillas,  it  was  deemed  imprudent 
to  travel  at  night.  At  daylight  of  the  10th  we  were  off 
again,  and  in  order  that  we  should  not  miss  any  of  the 
pleasant  experiences  of  Mississippi  travel,  the  boat  soon 
grounded  on  a  sand-bar,  and  we  had  the  pleasure  of 
assisting  the  crew  to  "pole  her  off."  Memphis,  Tenn., 
was  reached  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  here 
we  remained  till  the  12th.  Great  activity  was  mani 
fested  about  the  levee.  A  part  of  Porter's  mortal- 
fleet  was  moored  along  shore,  and  we  gazed  with  a  good 
deal  of  interest  on  the  curious-looking  iron-clad  tubs.  It 
was  reported  by  some  of  the  boys,  however,  that  all  the 
"  Iron-clads  "  were  not  moored  in  the  river.  We  learned 
that  about  7,000  negro  troops  were  quartered  near  by, 
while  5,000  more  were  up  at  Island  Number  Ten.  Truly, 
the  work  of  arming  the  blacks  was  making  good  progress. 
The  boat  having  been  '  'wooded  up"  and  thoroughly  cleaned 
during  our  stay,  the  journey  was  resumed  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  12th.  Helena,  Ark.,  was  passed  at  noon,  and 
as  usual,  a  wood-pile  was  the  stopping  place  for  the 
night. 

A  sharp  lookout  was  kept  for  guerillas,  and  several 
false  alarms  were  raised  ;  but  on  Saturday,  the  13th, 
shortly  after  daylight,  the  transport  in  advance  was  fired 
into,  and  we  were  formed  in  line,  with  muskets  loaded, 
ready  to  fire  a  volley  should  occasion  offer,  but  our  boat 
was  not  molested.  Milliken's  Bend  was  reached  at  dark, 
where  we  remained  for  the  night,  and  early  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  14th  landed  at  Young's  Point,  La. ,  near  the 
north  end  of  the  famous  canal  that  had  been  intended  to 
deflect  the  current  of  the  river,  and  make  Vicksburg  an 


1863.  THE   MORTAR   FLEET.  299 

inland  city.  The  bed  of  the  canal  was  found  to  be  sev 
eral  feet .  above  the  level  of  the  river,  and  we  thought  it 
no  wonder  the  Mississippi  refused  to  so  revolutionize  the 
laws  of  hydraulics,  as  to  run  up  hill  in  order  to  accommo 
date  a  few  Yankee  military  engineers.  The  canal  had 
no  doubt  been  dug  writh  a  view  to  being  used  during  the 
spring  freshets — this  was  our  afterthought. 

From  our  bivouac  behind  the  levee,  we  had  a  good 
view  of  the  bluffs  upon  which  Yicksburg  was  situated, 
and  by  the  aid  of  field-glasses,  a  portion  of  the  city, 
with  some  of  the  fortifications,  were  clearly  discerned. 
Although  somewhat  hardened  by  our  past  experience  in 
the  field,  the  sight  of  the  doomed  city  made  a  deep 
impression  on  our  minds.  The  accounts  we  had  read  of 
cities  besieged,  and  the  sufferings  endured  by  the  inhab 
itants,  came  vividly  to  mind.  We  imagined  we  saw 
Priam's  Gate,  and  the  old  king  seated  in  his  chair,  while 
Helen,  standing  beside  him,  pointed  out  the  various  lead 
ers  of  the  beleaguering  host.  But  the  Union  troops  wrere 
more  merciful  than  the  ancient  Greeks,  and  when  this 
Troy  fell,  there  was  no  occasion  for  the  modern  JEneas 
to  bear  upon  his  shoulders,  through  the  flames,  the  form 
of  an  old  Anchises. 

The  mortar  fleet,  moored  to  the  banks  of  the  river, 
both  above  and  below  the  city,  kept  up  a  continuous  fire. 
Day  and  night  the  shells  were  bursting  over  and  in  the 
city.  After  dark  we  watched  the  course  of  the  shells, 
distinctly  traced  by  the  burning  fuses.  The  report,  as 
they  left  the  mortars,  was  almost  deafening.  We  would 
frequently  count  the  moments  till  we  heard  the  second 
report  which  indicated  the  bursting  of  the  shells,  and 
then  wonder  if  any  one  had  been  killed.  Admiral  Por 
ter,  who  examined  the  works  after  the  surrender,  says  : 
' '  I  saw,  myself,  the  great  strongholds  at  Sebastopol  of 
the  Malakoff  tower  and  the  Eedan,  the  day  after  they 
were  taken  by  a  combined  army  of  120,000  men  ;  and 


300-  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

these  strongholds,  which  have  become  famous  in  ballads 
and  story,  never  in  any  way  compared  with  the  defences 
of  Vicksburg,  which  looked  as  if  a  thousand  Titans  had 
been  put  to  work  to  make  these  heights  unassailable." 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  we  marched 
along  the  line  of  the  canal,  the  distance  of  a  mile,  to  its 
southern  extremity,  near  which  we  found  a  large  camp 
of  colored  troops,  and  scattered  about,  along  the  line  of 
the  canal  especially,  were  thousands  of  negro  refugees— 
the  old,  the  lame  and  the  blind  ;  men,  women  and  picka 
ninnies — and  amid  such  surroundings  !  These  poor  peo 
ple — slaves  no  longer — had  brought  with  them  such  an 
assortment  of  personal  baggage  as  was  never  before  seen, 
even  in  a  Baxter  Street  second-hand  furniture  shop. 
Fragments  of  Brussels  carpets,  old  blankets,  lace  cur 
tains,  bedquilts,  cane-seated  and  sofa-bottomed  chairs, 
pieces  of  broken  statuary  that  once  graced  the  parlors  of 
happy  homes,  and  numerous  other  things,  classed  by 
Mrs.  Partington  as  articles  of  "  bigotry  and  virtue, "  lay 
scattered  about  in  indescribable  confusion.  As  to  their 
dress  : 

"  There  were  some  in  rags,  and  some  in  tags, 
And  some  in  velvet  gowns." 

Some  of  the  old  men  were  clothed  in  ill-assorted  por 
tions  of  the  dress  suits  of  their  masters ;  some  had  on 
blue  coats  with  brass  buttons — hatless  and  shoeless,  per 
haps,  while  others  wore  little  else  to  cover  their  naked 
ness  besides  plug  hats  and  old  blankets.  Some  of  the 
wenches  were  decently  dressed  in  the  coarse  plantation 
homespun,  or  the  cast-off  clothing  of  their  former 
mistresses,  while  the  busts  of  others  were  but  scantily 
covered  by  old  silk  waists,  which  failed  to  conceal  the 
fountains  from  which  their  infants  drew  nourishment, 
and  which  hung  pendant,  like  well-filled  haversacks.  It 
was  a  motley  sight.  "What  is  to  become  of  them?" 
was  the  natural  inquiry. 


1863.  SITUATION   WAS   PECULIAR.  301 

At  noon  we  went  on  board  a  transport  for  the  purpose 
of  crossing  over  to  join  the  army  in  the  trenches  in  the 
rear  of  Vicksbiirg,  but  were  immediately  ordered  on  shore 
again.  Grant  had  troops  enough  at  that  point,  and  the 
corps  was  ordered  to  proceed  up  the  Yazoo  and  report  to 
General  Sherman  at  Haines'  Bluff,  where  his  command 
was  engaged  in  watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
under  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  who  had  been 
endeavoring  to  raise  the  siege  by  an  attack  on  Grant's 
rear.  The  situation  was  peculiar — thirty  thousand  of  the 
enemy  in  Vicksburg  trying  to  get  out,  while  nearly  as 
many  more  were  out ,  trying  to  get  in,  the  Union  army, 
Janus-faced,  between  the  two  fires,  preventing  the  con 
summation  of  either  purpose.  Grant's  operations  were 
a  masterly  piece  of  strategy,  unequaled  during  the  war. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  we  returned  to  Young's  Point, 
remaining  there  for  the  night,  and  early  the  following 
morning,  the  10th,  embarked  on  the  transport,  William 
E.  Ewell,  and  sailed  up  the  Yazoo,  landing  the  next 
morning  at  a  point  two  miles  below  Haines'  Bluff.  After 
getting  our  own  baggage  ashore,  we  assisted  Benjamin's 
battery  to  land,  and  then  marched  about  three  miles  to 
Milldale,  where  our  tents  were  pitched  and  camp  estab 
lished.  The  weather  was  hot  and  sultry.  Adjutant 
Kaiilett,  in  the  "History  of  the  Thirty-Sixth  Massachu 
setts,"  says  :  "In.  many  places  the  soil  was  so  dry  and 
parched  with  the  heat,  that  it  seemed  to  have  cracked 
open  like  a  blistered  skin  beneath  the  tropical  rays  of  the 
sun.  The  wind  blew  from  every  point  of  the  compass, 
bringing  clouds  of  dust  along  with  it.  Gnats  and  flies 
made  night  hideous,  and  drove  sleep  from  the  weary. 
Venomous  snakes  and  other  reptiles  infested  the  woods 
and  thickets.  Lizards  soon  became  no  novelty,  and  even 
the  resort  of  keeping  them  out  of  one's  boots,  by  wearing 
them  day  and  night,  would  not  prevent  their  crawling 
down  one's  back  occasionally,  causing  a  sensation  like 
an  animated  icicle." 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

We  missed  the  clear  streams  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky, 
and  the  sea  breezes  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  but  this  was  a 
part  of  our  "experience,"  and,  as  the  boys  said  :  "It's 
all  in  the  three  years."  We  remained  here  till  the  29th, 
the  time  being  spent  in  ordinary  camp  duties,  supple 
mented  and  aggravated  by  hard  work  in  the  trenches, 
the  intense  heat  rendering  out-of-door  labor  not  only 
arduous  but  dangerous.  The  26th  was  one  of  the  hottest 
days  of  that  very  hot  June.  We  worked  in  the  trenches 
from  sunrise  till  sunset,  the  working  party  being  divided 
into  two  reliefs,  and  while  one  plied  the  pick  and  shovel 
for  an  hour,  the  other  rested,  but  remained  near  their 
arms  in  order  to  fall  in  at  a  moment's  notice,  and  protect 
the  working  party.  Over  one  hundred  and  eighty  yards 
of  rifle-pit,  ranging  from  two-and-a-half  to  four  feet 
deep,  was  the  result  of  this  day's  work,  and  as  we  had 
only  two  hundred  men  in  the  two  reliefs,  it  was  consid 
ered,  under  the  circumstances,  a  big  day's  job. 

The  steady  boom,  boom,  of  the  mortars  and  siege  guns 
could  be  distinctly  heard  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and 
night.  One  morning,  just  before  daylight,  a  terrific  can- 
noiiadiiig  woke  us  all  from  sleep,  and  for  a  moment  we 
thought  our  own  position  had  been  attacked,  but  it  was 
only  an  advance  of  a  portion  of  the  besiegers'  lines,  by 
which  movement  Grant  secured  important  advantages. 

A  letter  written  oil  the  27th,  contains  the  following  : 
"  Our  men  are  all  in  excellent  health,  the  climate  not  yet 
having  had  an  opportunity  of  getting  in  its  work.  There 
is  a  good  deal  of  grumbling  at  our  quartermaster  and 
commissary,  however,  on  account  of  the  quality  of  our 
food,  and  the  men  threatened  to  give  the  latter  a  ducking, 
the  other  day,  if  he  did  not  furnish  us  with  better  rations. 
We  manage  to  confiscate  a  pig  or  a  sheep  now  and  then, 
which  helps  our  government  fare.  Blackberries  and 
wild  plums  are  now  ripe  and  found  in  great  abundance. 
We  also  have  a  new  ( institution '  attached  to  the  regiment 


1863.  FLOWER   HILL.  30  3 

—nothing  less  than  a  Scotch  'piper'  from  Michigan, 
who  joined  us  on  our  way  down  here.  He  has  a  full  suit 
of  the  kilts  and  often  so  entertains  us  with  his  alleged 
tunes  on  the  pipes,  that  we  have  several  times  threatened 
to  'fire  him  out,'  and  not  allow  him  to  perform  again  till 
he  learns  how." 

A  good  deal  of  excitement  was  caused  by  the  news  of 
the  rebel  invasion  of  Pennsylvania  ;  the  absence  of  reli 
able  information  of  recent  date  rendered  the  situation 
more  uncertain  ;  we  did  not  know  but  that  our  own 
homes  might  be  invaded.  The  Pennsylvania  troops  with 
us  were  especially  worked  up,  and  would  have  been  glad 
of  the  opportunity  of  going  home  to  help  drive  the 
invaders  back  into  Virginia.  We  felt  certain,  however, 
that  the  enemy  would  not  long  remain  in  the  Keystone 
state,  and  equally  certain  that  he  would  be  driven  back 
with  such  punishment  as  would  render  the  chances  of 
his  repeating  the  experiment  extremely  small. 

For  the  purpose  of  examining  the  river  north  of  Hahies' 
Bluff,  Generals  Parke  and  Potter,  with  the  members  of 
their  staffs,  and. escorted  by  Company  G  of  the  High 
landers,  embarked  on  a  small  gun-boat  and  sailed  about 
eight  miles  up  the  stream,  where  they  encountered  a 
strong  rebel  cavalry  picket,  who  fired  on  the  boat  and 
then  galloped  off.  The  gun-boat  fired  a  shell  or  two  after 
the  retreating  horsemen,  while  Company  G  landed  and 
destroyed  the  camp  equipage,  at  the  same  time  capturing 
nine  head  of  cattle,  which  were  driven  on  board.  The 
boat  then  proceeded  up  stream  till  the  mouth  of  the  Big 
Sunflower  river  was  reached,  where  further  progress 
was  arrested  by  obstructions  sunk  in  the  channel.  After 
remaining  here  for  three  or  four  hours  and  noting  the 
surroundings,  the  boat  returned,  the  men  reaching  camp 
about  nightfall,  well  pleased  with  their  excursion. 

On  Monday,  the  29th,  we  moved  at  nine  A.  M.  ,  march 
ing  about  four  miles  to  Flower  Hill.  The  day  was  very 


3<M  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  Julyr 

warm,  the  roads  dusty  and  water  scarce,  and  although 
the  distance  was  short,  our  knapsacks  felt  as  though 
filled  with  lead,  before  the  march  was  accomplished. 
Immediately  on  our  arrival  we  began  the  usual  digging 
and  delving,  building  batteries  and  rifle-pits.  The  sick 
list  began  gradually  to  increase,  and  we  wished  many 
a  time  we  were  back  in  Kentucky  or  even  Virginia.  In 
the  evening  the  men  would  gather  about  a  smouldering 
camp-fire,  where  a  smudge  was  maintained  to  keep  off 
the  gnats  and  mosquitoes,  and  discuss  the  progress  of  the 
campaign,  the  coming  Fourth  of  July,  and  the  probable 
fall  of  Vicksburg. 

On  the  evening  of  July  3rd,  it  was  reported  that  Grant 
had  sent  word  to  Sherman,  to  the  effect  that  Pembertoii 
was  ready  to  surrender  the  city,  upon  terms  that  might 
be  agreed  upon  by  a  commission  from  both  armies,  and 
that  Grant  had  informed  the  Confederate  commander 
that  he  need  not  trouble  himself  about  a  commission,  as 
nothing  but  an  unconditional  surrender  would  satisfy 
him  ;  that  Sherman  in  response  had  complimented  Grant 
on  his  success  thus  far  in  the  siege,  adding  that  should 
the  place  fall  by  the  Fourth,  it  would  be  the  greatest 
Fourth  of  July  the  country  had  ever  known  since  the 
memorable  one  of  1776.  On  the  morning  of  the  Fourth, 
a  ration  of  whiskey  to  "the  day  we  celebrate"  was 
served  out.  Just  before  110011  the  news  of  the  surrender 
was  announced,  and  at  the  same  time  we  were  ordered 
to  get  ready  in  light  marching  order  and  be  prepared  to 
start  at  a  moment's  notice. 

General  Sherman,  in  his  "Memoirs,"  says  :  "Vicks 
burg  surrendered,  and  orders  were  given  for  at  once 
attacking  General  Johnston.  The  Thirteenth  corps 
(General  Ord),  was  ordered  to  march  rapidly  and  cross 
the  Big  Black  at  the  railroad  bridge  ;  the  Fifteenth  by 
Messingers,  and  the  Ninth  (General  Parke),  by  Bird- 
songs'  Ferry — all  to  converge  on  Bolton." 


1863.  SECURED  AN  ADVANTAGE.  305 

Grant's  orders  to  Sherman  were  simple.  Badeau's 
''Military  History  of  U.  S.  Grant,"  says  :  "Make  your 
calculations  to  attack  Johnston  and  destroy  the  road 
north  of  Jackson.  I  want  Johnston  broken  up  as 

effectually  as  possible.  You  can  make  your  own  arrange 
ments." 

In  the  order  to  pursue  Johnston,  so  soon  after  the  fall 
of  Vicksburg,  and  in  the  simple  orders  of  Grant  to  his 
able  and  trusted  lieutenant,  Sherman,  in  whom  he  had 
such  confidence,  we  have  a  glance  at  the  character  of  our 
able  and  honored  commander.  An  army  of  30,000  men 
is  surrendered  to  him  !  Does  he  sit  down  to  glorify  over 
it  and  receive  the  congratulations  of  the  country,  as 
would  most  commanders  ?  No  !  No  !  Apparently  for 
getting  self,  he  realizes  that  more  work  is  to  be  done, 
and  that  speedily,  and  therefore  at  once  sets  about  to 
accomplish  it.  He  had  secured  an  advantage  and  now 
as  always  he  proposed  to  follow  it  up. 


306  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  JACKSON  CAMPAIGN. 

AFTER  Johnston. — Strength  of  Union  and  Confederate  Forces. — Hot  Weather 
and  Sunstrokes. — Crossing  the  Big  Black. — Doctor  "Green  Corn." — How  we 
Obtained  Drinking  Water. — A  Thunder  Storm. — Rainy  Camp.— Approaching 
Jackson. — Capture  of  Adjutant  Gilmour. — Reckless  Darnig  of  the  Second 
Michigan. — Siege  of  Jackson. — Retreat  of  the  Enemy. — Destroying  Public 
Property. — Mississippi  Pork. — A  Serenade. — Return  to  Jackson. — To  Milldale. 
— Results  of  the  Campaign. — "Starving  the  Rebels  Out." — Corn  is  King. — Mor 
rison's  Brigade. — Embark  for  the  North. 

headed  a  little  north  of  east,  towards  the  crossing 
of  the  Big  Black,  on  the  Brownsville  road,  and 
marched  about  six  miles  on  the  afternoon  and  evening  of 
the  4th,  and  remained  in  our  bivouac  till  one  o'clock  the 
next  afternoon,  when  we  marched  two  miles  further. 
News  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  reached  us  as  we 
halted,  and  gladdened  all  our  hearts.  Vicksburg  and 
Gettysburg  !  Surely  the  Fourth  was  "such  a  one  as  the 
country  had  never  known  since  the  memorable  one  of 

me." 

Johnston's  army  had  recently  been  reinforced,  and  now 
consisted  of  four  divisions,  under  Generals  Loriiig,  Breck- 
enridge,  French,  and  Walker,  and  a  cavalry  corps  under 
General  W.  H.  Jackson,  and  numbered  about  55,000 
men.  Sherman's  army  was  composed  of  the  two  divi 
sions  of  the  Ninth  corps,  to  which  was  attached  one 
division  of  the  Sixteenth  corps,  the  Thirteenth  and 
Fifteenth  corps,  and  a  division  of  the  Seventeenth  corps, 
in  all  about  48,000.  A  division  of  the  Sixteenth  corps 


1863.  EXERCISE   OF  WILL-POWER.  307 

was  left  at  Haines'  Bluff  and  other  troops  were  left  at 
points  in  our  rear  as  we  advanced,  in  order  to  guard 
against  cavalry  raids  by  the  enemy. 

Cannonading  in  our  front  on  the  morning  of  the  6th 
told  us  that  Johnston  was  contesting  our  advance.  The 
division  of  the  Sixteenth  corps  had  the  lead  on  that  day  ; 
at  ten  o'clock  we  started,  and  were  soon  crossing  the 
Big  Black  on  a  temporary  bridge  at  Birdsoiigs'  Ferry  on 
the  Brownsville  road.  The  clay  was  extremely  warm, 
and  many  of  our  men  fell  out  of  the  ranks  while  passing 
through  a  corn-field,  just  before  reaching  the  river.  It 
seemed  hotter  there  than  at  any  place  we  had  passed 
through  ;  the  ground  was  low  and  moist,  and  under  the 
burning  sun,  was  literally  steaming.  Drinking  water  was 
very  scarce,  our  surgeons  had  warned  us  not  to  drink  the 
water  of  the  Big  Black,  and  our  sole  reliance  was  on  the 
cisterns  attached  to  the  dwelling  houses,  while  reports 
freely  circulated,  led  us  to  believe  that  the  enemy  had 
rendered  even  these  unfit  for  use. 

In  relating  his  experience  of  this  part  of  our  march, 
one  of  our  comrades  says  :  "I  never  knew  what  it  was 
to  be  overcome  by  the  heat  before.  On  approaching  the 
river  I  began  to  feel  giddy  ;  my  head  swam  as  I  walked, 
and  my  body  swayed  from  side  to  side  like  a  drunken 
man  ;  black  spots  floated  across  my  vision,  and  I  soon 
realized  that  if  this  feeling  continued,  I  should  be  over 
come  ;  the  thought  frightened  me  and  brought  me  to  a 
realizing  sense  of  my  danger  !  What  !  Drop  down  in  the 
corn-field,  and  die  like  a  dog  ?  No  !  I  would  n't !  By  a 
vigorous  exercise  of  will-power,  a  determination  to  fight 
off  the  dread  enemy,  I  escaped.  Stepping  out  of  the 
ranks  for  a  moment,  I  gave  myself  a  good  shaking, 
twisted  my  body  first  to  one  side,  then  to  the  other,  and 
at  last  felt  that  the  crisis  was  past.  But  a  violent  thirst 
succeeded  ;  my  mouth  and  throat  were  dry  and  parched, 
and  not  one  of  my  comrades  had  a  drop  of  water.  As 


308  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

the  river  came  in  sight,  I  determined  to  take  the  risk  and 
drink  some  of  the  water  ;  I  thought  I  should  die  if  I 
did  n't,  and  was  afraid  I  might  die  if  I  did  !  What  a 
dilemma  !  As  we  passed  over  the  low  bridge,  so  low  that 
by  stooping  down  I  could  touch  the  water,  I  dipped  up  a 
cup-full,  and  before  the  opposite  shore  was  reached,  had 
drank  over  a  pint. 

"My  burning  thirst  was  quenched,  but  in  its  place 
came  a  series  of  griping  pains  in  my  stomach  and  bowels 
that  fairly  doubled  me  up  ;  I  was  obliged  to  lie  down  on 
the  ground,  and  rolled  over  and  over  in  my  agony.  A 
fit  of  vomiting  and  purging  succeeded,  however,  which 
relieved  me,  and  my  head  soon  felt  better  ;  but  it  was  a 
narrow  escape.  I  caught  up  with  the  regiment  about 
two  miles  beyond  the  river,  and  during  the  remainder  of 
the  campaign  was  not  troubled  in  the  least.  I  had 
become  acclimated  and  felt  that  I  could  stand  any 
thing." 

During  the  march  the  men  indulged  freely  in  green 
corn  ;  it  was  just  about  fit  to  eat  when  properly  cooked, 
but  our  march  was  a  rapid  one,  and  after  the  sound 
of  cannon  was  heard  we  outstripped  the  commissary 
wagons,  and  had  little  time  for  cooking,  so  the  men  ate 
the  corn  raw ;  this  brought  on  bowel  troubles,  and  ren 
dered  many  of  the  men  totally  unfit  for  service.  Our 
assistant  surgeon  was  put  to  his  wits-end  for  remedies. 
His  stock  of  medicines  had  given  out,  and  now,  when 
approached  by  a  sick  man  for  something  to  help  him,  he 
would  say  :  "I  have  no  medicine,  eat  some  green  corn  ! " 
Whether  "Similia  similibus  curantur"  was  the  doctor's 
theory  of  medicine  or  not,  his  prescription,  quantity 
excepted,  was  certainly  Homeopathic.  His  advice  re 
minded  us  of  the  physician,  who,  when  a  letter-carrier 
(whose  vocation  was  unknown  to  the  doctor)  applied  to 
him,  said  :  "What  you  need  is  some  vigorous  exercise  ; 
take  a  good  brisk  walk  every  day  and  you  will  soon 


1863.  PURE   WATER.  309 

be  all  right."  From  the  frequency  with  which  our  sur 
geon  gave  his  prescription  he  was  irreverently  dubbed 
"  Green  Corn,"  and  that  appellation  stuck  to  him  for  a 
long  time  afterwards.  . 

When  the  regiment  was  not  in  the  lead  it  was  custom 
ary  for  two  or  three  men  from  each  company  to  shoulder 
the  canteens  of  their  comrades  and  push  on  ahead,  hop 
ing  to  secure  water  from  some  of  the  cisterns  before  it 
was  all  taken  by  the  troops  in  front.  Frequent  alterca 
tions  occurred  about  these  "oases,"  and  frequently  a 
water-carrier  would  return  bare-headed,  having  lost  his 
cap  down  the  cistern.  At  one  point  on  the  road  our 
water  party  met  us  with  empty  canteens,  and  the  explan 
ation  that  ' '  The  d— d  rebels  have  put  kerosene  oil  in  the 
wells."  At  other  places  the  pumps  had  been  removed, 
and  it  was  only  by  u  borrowing "  clothes-lines  that  the 
precious  fluid  could  be  obtained.  Occasionally  a  small 
pond  of  surface  water  would  be  discovered,  where  the 
horses,  and  men  too,  might  have  been  glad  to  drink,  but 
even  these  were  polluted  by  the  putrid  carcasses  of 
animals,  which  we  sometimes  hauled  out  and  then  made 
use  of  the  unwholesome  water.  The  enemy  evidently 
believed  in  the  old  adage  :  "All 's  fair  in  love  and  war." 

But  we  were  soon  to  have  plenty  of  water,  and  pure 
water,  too,  from  a  source  which  the  enemy  could  not 
reach  to  contaminate.  Just  about  dusk  the  heavens 
opened  and  the  rain  fell  ;  it  was  such  a  storm  as  few 
of  those  who  witnessed  it  will  ever  forget ;  even  the 
"oldest  inhabitant"  of  the  region  could  not  remember 
one  more  severe.  For  an  hour  or  more  the  rain  fell  in 
torrents  ;  the  lightning  struck  in  many  places  near  us, 
while  the  peals  of  thunder  and  blinding  flashes  were 
almost  incessant.  The  road  soon  became  so  deep  with 
mud  that  the  artillery  found  it  difficult  to  move,  and  the 
road  was  blocked.  But  the  lightning  saved  many  a 
man's  life,  no  doubt ;  the  road  was  narrow,  and  gullies, 


310  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

six  to  eight  feet  deep,  had  been  worn  on  either  side 
by  previous  rains  ;  these  were  now  filled  to  the  level  of 
the  road  by  the  rushing,  roaring  water,  and  formed  a 
dangerous  pit-fall  for  any  who  might  make  a  mis-step. 
The  lightning  enabled  us  to  pick  our  way  over  the  road 
and  through  among  gun-carriages  and  caissons,  now 
stalled  in  the  mud. 

Many  of  us  wore  rubber  ponchos  over  our  shoulders, 
and  in  order  to  obtain  drinking  water  and  fill  our  can 
teens,  the  lower  edges  of  the  ponchos  were  held  by  the 
man  behind  the  wearer,  and  formed  into  a  funnel ;  our 
canteens  were  held  under  these  and  soon  filled  with  the 
best  drinking  water  we  had  tasted  since  leaving  Ken 
tucky.  What  did  we  care  for  a  drenching  in  that  warm 
climate  !  We  would  have  been  willing  to  endure  one 
every  day  for  the  sake  of  a  plentiful  supply  of  nature's 
beverage. 

About  midnight  .we  reached  Bolton,  forming  a  junc 
tion  with  the  other  corps  of  Sherman's  army.  The  rain 
had  ceased,  and  when  arms  were  stacked  we  set  about 
making  fires  to  dry  our  clothing,  and  had  just  begun  to 
see  the  steam  rise  from  our  soaked  garments  when, 
without  a  moment's  warning,  down  came  the  rain  again, 
and  in  such  a  volume  that  the  fires  were  instantly  ex 
tinguished.  Twice  fires  were  started  only  to  be  put  out 
by  the  rain,  but  after  a  while  we  managed  to  boil  a  cup 
of  coffee  and  partially  dry  our  clothes.  We  remained  in 
our  bivouac  till  three  P.  M.  of  the  7th,  when  we  again 
resumed  our  march.  .We* marched  till  ten  o'clock  in  the 
evening  and  then  halted  for  the  night. 

During  the  afternoon  a  detail  of  two  officers  and  fifty 
men  was  called  for,  to  perform  guard  duty  at  corps  head 
quarters.  Captain  Armour  and  Lieutenant  Watson,  with 
Company  C,  and  a  few  men  from  other  companies  to 
make  up  the  requisite  number,  were  detached  for  that 
duty,  and  constituted  the  guard  until  the  whole  regi- 


1863.  THUS   WE   ADVANCED.  311 

nient  was  detailed  for  that  purpose,  in  the  following 
November. 

On  the  8th  we  only  marched  six  miles,  and  at  eight 
p.  M.  bivouacked  within  a  dozen  miles  of  Jackson.  At 
daylight  of  the  9th  we  were  off  again,  passing  Joe  Davis' 
plantation  (brother  of  Jeff.),  where  a  large  quantity  of 
cotton  was  burning,  and  at  nine  in  the  evening  went 
into  bivouac.  Seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  10th 
found  us  on  the  road  again,  and  at  three  in  the  after 
noon  we  reached  a  point  within  sight  of  the  city.  Jack 
son,  the  capital  of  the  State,  is  situated  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Pearl  river.  The  region  is  a  fertile  one,  and  the 
fields  about  us  had  been  under  good  cultivation  up  to  the 
time  Grant's  army  visited  it  in  the  Spring.  In  our  front, 
between  us  and  the  city,  was  a  ridge  of  land  which  the 
enemy  had  fortified.  The  State  Lunatic  Asylum  occu 
pied  a  commanding  position  on  this  ridge,  and  as  the 
corps  moved  forward  our  skirmishers  passed  through  the 
grounds  surrounding  the  institution.  The  poor  inmates, 
those  in  whom  a  little  reason  was  left,  seemed  much 
exercised  when  they  beheld  us  from  the  windows,  and 
uttered  many  execrations  against  the  Yankees.  As  we 
advanced,  the  enemy's  main  line  fell  back  into  the  in 
trench  inents  nearer  the  town.  General  Welsh,  who  was 
in  command  of  the  division,  formed  his  troops  in  line, 
expecting  that  a  charge  would  be  ordered  and  the 
enemy's  works  carried  by  assault. 

Our  brigade,  the  Third,  was  on  the  left  of  the  line, 
while  the  First  was  on  the  right,  the  Second  being  held 
in  reserve.  The  Forty-Fifth  Pennsylvania  and  the  High 
landers  were  deployed  on  the  skirmish  line  in  front  of 
their  respective  brigades,  and  thus  we  advanced.  We 
soon  came  in  contact  with  the  skirmish  line  of  the 
enemy,  near  the  track  of  the  Mississippi  Central  rail 
road  ;  they  fell  back,  and,  darkness  coming  on,  our  line 
was  halted. 


312  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

After  the  Highlanders  had  been  located  for  the  night, 
Adjutant  Gilmour  was  sent  back  to  hurry  up  the  cooks, 
in  order  that  we  might  have  some  coffee  before  lying 
down  ;  he  missed  his  way,  and  thus  describes  what  fol 
lowed  :  "When  I  had  passed  the  line  of  skirmishers  I 
turned,  as  I  supposed,  to  the  rear,  and  had  not  ridden 
far  when  I  was  confronted  by  four  mounted  troopers 
and  the  challenge  '  Who  comes  there  ? '  It  was  now 
dark,  but  I  supposed  the  challenge  came  from  our  own 
men,  so  I  replied  : 

'"Adjutant  Seventy-Ninth  New  York.' 

"'All  right.     Advance.' 

"On  approaching  nearer  I  found  myself  in  front  of 
four  leveled  revolvers,  and  welcomed  with  the  informa 
tion  : 

' ' '  You  're  my  prisoner. ' 
• "  '  The  deuce  I  am.     Who  are  you  \ ' 

"'Sergeant-  Third  Missouri  Cavalry.  Have  you 
any  arms,  Adjutant  ? ' 

"  ' Nothing  but  my  pistol.' 

"  'Well,  hand  it  here.'  And  as  I  made  the  motion  to 
draw  my  weapon  the  sergeant  continued  : 

11 '  Stop,  I  '11  take  it  myself.  Have  you  any  money  or 
valuables  ? ' 

"  ( Thirty  dollars  and  a  watch.' 

"'Well,  you'll  want  them,  but  the  horse  and  pistol 
are  mine.' 

"As  I  dismounted  I  was  comforted  with  the  assurance 
that  'that  'ere  horse  is  worth 'two  thousand  dollars,  Con 
federate  scrip.'  I  was  at  once  taken  into  Jackson  and 
soon  brought  before  General  Johnston,  and  ha*d  to  go 
through  a  second  ordeal  of  cross-questioning  more  point 
ed  than  the  first. 

'"What's  your  rank?' 

'"Adjutant,  Seventy-Ninth  New  York.' 

' ' '  How  many  men  are  there  in  your  regiment  ? ' 


1863.  WE   GOT  OUR   COFFEE.  313 

'* '  About  a  thousand,  sir.' 

"  *  To  what  corps  is  it  attached  ? ' 

'"Ninth  Army  Corps.' 

' ' '  Who  's  in.  command  of  the  troops  ? ' 

"'General  Grant/ 

"  '  How  many  men  have  you  got  in  front  of  the  city  ?' 

"At  this  question  I  hesitated,  and  having  already  told 
a  couple  of  whoppers,  I  thought  I  would  give  an  equivo 
cal  answer,  so  replied  in  as  dignified  a  tone  as  I  could 
assume  :  '  Your  name  is  General  Johnston,  I  believe. 
Mine  is  Adjutant  James  Gilmour.  Do  you  take  me  for 
a  fool  or  something  worse  ?  I  can  tell  you  so  much, 
General ;  that  there  are  men  enough  in  front  of  you  to 
eat  you  up,  and  if  you  11  take  my  advice,  you  '11  clear  out 
of  here  as  quick  as  possible.' 

' ' l  Here,  guard,  remove  your  prisoner. ' ' 

The  story  of  how  the  Confederate  Provost  Marshal— 
into  whose  hands  he  now  fell — was  foiled  in  his  desire  to 
get  a  pair  of  fine  boots,  worn  by  the  Adjutant,  and  his 
imprisonment  and  several  attempts  to  escape,  the  last  of 
which  was  successful,  form  an  exceedingly  interesting 
narrative. 

But  we  got  our  coffee.  The  cooks  having  prepared  the 
cordial  a  short  distance  in  rear  of  our  line,  came  up  with 
it,  steaming  hot,  about  an  hour  after  the  Adjutant's 
departure.  The  Eighth  Michigan  were  sent  out  on  the 
picket  line  in  front  of  the  brigade,  and  the  Highlanders 
lay  down  to  rest  in  perfect  security. 

By  daylight  of  the  llth  our  lines  in  front  of  the  city 
were  established.  General  Ord  with  the  Thirteenth  corps 
rested  his  right  on  the  Pearl  river,  below  the  town. 
Steele  with  the  Fifteenth  (Sherman's  old  corps)  and  the 
division  of  the  Seventeenth  corps  held  the  centre,  while 
our  corps  with  the  division  of  the  Sixteenth  extended  to 
within  about  two  miles  of  the  river  north  of  the  city. 
The  troops  were  now  formed  for  the  anticipated  assault. 


314  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  Julyy 

The  Second  Michigan  were  deployed  on  the  skirmish  line, 
and  the  brigade  advanced,  driving  in  the  enemy's  skir 
mishers,  until  they  took  refuge  behind  the  defences  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  city.  Several  handsome  residences 
were  located  on  the  rise  of  ground,  along  which  the 
defensive  works  were  built,  and  lines  of  earth-works 
extended  through  lawns  and  flower-gardens.  As  we 
continued  to  advance,  the  enemy  opened  with  artillery, 
while  on  our  side  Benjamin's  battery,  from  a  position 
in  our  rear,  fired  shells  into  the  enemy's  lines.  The 
Second  Michigan,  as  brave  and  daring  a  regiment  as 
there  was  in  the  service,  through  a  misunderstanding 
of  orders,  charged  on  the  enemy's  intreiichments  in 
skirmishing  order  and  actually  reached  the  earth-works, 
but  the  brave  fellows  were  not  supported,  as  the  division 
commander  had  not  received  orders  to  storm  the  works 
at  that  time,  and  they  were  obliged  to  retreat,  bringing 
back  with  them  their  wounded.  On  our  right  the  First 
brigade  advanced  to  within  three  or  four  hundred  yards 
of  the  enemy's  works,  arid  there  established  a  line.  This 
was  accomplished  by  noon,  and  our  skirmishers,  many  of 
whom  were  posted  in  the  open  field,  worked  lively  in  dig 
ging  holes  with  their  bayonets,  throwing  up  the  dirt  with 
their  tin  plates,  in  order  to  form  a  slight  protection  from 
the  bullets  of  the  enemy,  which  were  now  flying  about 
our  ears.  Several  men  in  the  regiment  were  wounded, 
but  none  killed. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon -a  heavy  thunder 
storm  passed  over  and  gave  us  a  good  drenching.  We 
maintained  our  position  till  ten  o'clock  the  next  morn 
ing,  the  12th,  when  our  division  was  relieved  by  the 
Second,  under  General  R.  B.  Potter.  We  retired  about 
three  hundred  yards  to  the  rear,  and  the  Highlanders 
bivouacked  between  Benjamin's  and  Edwards'  batteries. 
The  twenty-pounders  were  throwing  percussion  shells 
into  the  enemy's  works,  and  by  standing  behind  the 


1863.  EMPTY   CRACKER  BOXES.  315 

guns,  in  the  direct  line  of  fire,  we  could  see  the  iron  mes 
sengers  as  they  sped  011  their  way.  Twice  during  the 
afternoon  we  were  formed  in  line,  in  anticipation  of  an 
assault,  but  110  orders  to  advance  were  given.  Details  of 
the  surrender  of  Port  Hudson  cheered  our  hearts  at  this 
time.  Another  shower,  too,  furnished  us  with  plenty  of 
fresh  water,  and  when,  at  night,  we  lay  down  beside  our 
muskets,  we  felt  happy,  and  quite  confident  of  the  suc 
cess  of  our  present  campaign. 

Severe  fighting  had  occurred  on  the  extreme  right  of 
our  line  during  the  day.  Through  a  misinterpretation 
of  orders,  General  Lauman,  who  commanded  the  division 
of  the  Seventeenth  corps,  which  had  been  sent  from 
Steele  to  reinforce  Ord,  made  an  unsupported  attack, 
resulting  in  a  loss  of  over  five  hundred  men. 

The  13th  passed  quietly — for  us.  It  is  true  that  shot 
and  shell  landed  pretty  close  to  us  at  times,  but  this  did 
not  prevent  the  men  from  washing  their  clothes,  and 
doing  a  little  foraging  in  the  rear.  At  three  o'clock  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  1-tth  the  brigade  was  sent  to  the 
front  again,  and  the  Highlanders  occupied  the  skirmish 
line.  We  took  some  empty  cracker  boxes  with  us, 
which,  when  filled  with  dirt,  made  excellent  "  individ 
ual  "  rifle-pits.  A  flag  of  truce  from  the  enemy,  asking 
for  an  armistice  in  order  to  allow  them  to  bury  their  dead 
and  care  for  the  wounded,  was  received  soon  after  our 
arrival  on  the  line,  and  a  period  of  two  hours  was 
granted  for  that  purpose,  during  which  time  we  greatly 
improved  our  rifle-pits.  At  dark  we  were  relieved  by  the 
Twenty-Ninth  Massachusetts  and  we  returned  to  our 
bivouac.  During  the  night  our  batteries  fired  occasional 
shots,  but  110  demonstration  occurred  to  disturb  our 
slumbers. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  the  enemy  brought  a 
heavy  siege  gun  to  bear  on  Benjamin's  battery,  and 
before  we  moved  out  of  the  way,  several  of  the  big  shot 


316  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

scattered  the  dirt  about  our  ears  in  a  very  disagreeable 
manner.  The  artillery  fire  continued  all  day,  and  it 
began  to  look  as  though  we  were  in  for  an  all-summer's 
job,  unless  more  energetic  measures  were  adopted  to 
drive  the  enemy  out  of  the  city.  The  weather  was 
warm,  the  climate  unhealthy,  and  we  were  anxious  to 
get  through  with  the  campaign.  Officers  and  men  suf 
fered  alike,  and  owing  to  the  sickness  of  General  Welsh 
and  other  senior  officers  in  the  division,  the  command 
for  a  time  devolved  on  Colonel  Morrison. 

General  Johnston,  not  being  prepared  to  stand  a  siege, 
was  anxious  for  Sherman  to  assault,  believing  that  his 
position  would  enable  him  to  repel  the  attack,  and  per 
haps  afford  an  opportunity  for  a  counter  attack  which 
would  drive  us  back.  Finding  that  the  Union  com 
mander  was  too  wise  to  do  what  his  opponent  wished, 
Johnston,  on  the  15th,  telegraphed  to  Eichmond  that  he 
would  be  obliged  to  abandon  the  place,  and  on  the  16th 
issued  his  orders  to  that  effect.  About  noon  of  this  day 
Colonel  Morrison  was  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance 
as  far  as  the  Pearl  river,  north  of  the  city.  Our  lines 
were  not  established  in  that  direction,  and  occasionally 
the  enemy's  scouting  parties  appeared  on  our  flank, 
but  not  in  sufficient  force  to  necessitate  our  fortifying 
that  part  of  the  line.  After  marching  a  mile  or  so  the 
regiment  was  halted,  and  Company  I,  under  Lieutenant 
Clark,  was  sent  out  in  advance,  with  orders  to  proceed 
as  far  as  the  river,  and  to  send  back  for  reinforcements 
in  case  any  were  needed.  The  company  had  gone  about 
a  mile  or  so  when  they  encountered  a  cavalry  picket  of  the 
enemy,  who  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  our  men  continuing  a 
short  distance  further,  when  the  river  was  reached. 
Colonel  Morrison  rode  forward,  and  with  Lieutenant 
Clark  and  his  company  marched  a  short  distance  up  the 
stream,  encountering  another  cavalry  picket,  which  also 
made  good  their  retreat.  The  object  of  the  expedition 


1 863. 


A  GOOD  TIME.  317 


having  been  accomplished,  the  regiment  returned  to  camp 
in  time  for  dress-parade. 

Very  little  firing  occurred  during  the  night,  and  early 
on  the  morning  of  the  17th  it  was  reported  that  the 
enemy  had  evacuated  the  town.  Ferrero's  brigade  of 
the  Second  division  was  on  the  skirmish  line  at  the  time, 
and  when  it  advanced  the  report  was  confirmed.  The  big 
gun  that  had  annoyed  us  was  found  to  be  a  thirty -two 
pounder.  It  fell  into  our  hands,  together  with  a  number 
of  small  arms,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  prison 
ers,  who  had  been  asleep — so  they  said — when  their  army 
left.  The  railroad  shops  and  several  public  buildings  had 
either  been  destroyed  or  were  found  burning,  and  a  large 
amount  of  cotton  had  also  been  fired.  Bales  of  cotton 
had  also  been  used  in  the  construction  of  breastworks, 
but  it  seems  the  material  proved  as  great  a  delusion,  as 
when  used  in  the  economy  of  the  female  toilet. 

Sherman  now  proceeded  to  further  carry  out  Grant's 
instructions,  and  at  ten  o'clock,  our  First  division  in 
advance,  the  corps  started  for  a  point  on  the  railroad 
north  of  the  city.  Grant's  Mills,  about  eight  miles  up 
the  river,  was  reached,  where  we  bivouacked  for  the 
night.  We  destroyed  a  large  section  of  the  railroad, 
burned  one  or  two  bridges  and  such  other  public  property 
as  might  render  aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemy.  About 
fifty  prisoners  were  captured,  most  of  whom  w^e 
thought  were  willing  victims.  The  18th  was  spent  by 
our  division  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  while  other  por 
tions  of  the  corps  were  sent  further  up  to  destroy  more 
of  the  railroad.  We  now  considered  the  campaign  vir 
tually  over,  and  were  as  happy  a  lot  of  men  as  could  be 
found  in  the  army.  We  bathed  in  the  river,  washed  our 
clothes,  foraged— just  a  little— and  had  a  "good  time" 
generally.  Some  may  remember  a  chase  that  was  had 
for  a  pig  during  the  afternoon,  and  that,  after  the  carcass 
had  been  dressed,  the  boar  meat  smelled  so  ' '  loud  "  it  was 


318 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS. 


July, 


about  to  be  abandoned,  when,  fortunately  for  our  forag 
ers,  men  from  another  regiment  were  met,  with  whom 
the  "whole  hog"  was  traded  for  half  of  the  sheep's  car 
cass  which  they  carried  ;  and  how,  on  meeting  them  the 


next  morning,  our  men  were  informed  that  "If  all  the 
Mississippi  pork  tasted  like  that,"  they  "  did  n't  want  any 
more  of  it  !" 

Division  headquarters  had  been  established  in  the  door- 
yard  of  a  house  occupied  by  a  family,  the  members  of 
which,  during  our  stay,  kept  themselves  strictly  secluded. 
In  the  evening  we  heard  female  voices  in  the  parlors, 
singing  "patriotic"  southern  airs.  "The  Bonnie  Blue 
Flag"  and  "Dixie"  seemed  to  be  their  favorites,  and  by 
the  time  they  finished,  several  hundred  men  had  gath 
ered  about,  who  listened  in  respectful  silence.  We 
applauded  our  entertainers  by  a  clapping  of  hands,  and 
then  came  our  turn.  We  opened  with  "  The  Star  Span 
gled  Banner,"  and  sung  it  with  a  will,  too  ;  the  tune  had 
been  a  stranger  in  that  part  of  the  country  for  a  good 
while,  and  we  felt  like  giving  it  a  good  send-off.  When 
that  was  finished,  "Rally  Round  the  Flag,  Boys,"  fol 
lowed,  and  we  wound  up — at  the  suggestion  of  the 


,863.  COMFORTABLE   BED.  319 

division  commander,  who  thought  that  it  might  be 
crowding  the  mourners  to  prolong  the  concert — with 
"John  Brown's  Body."  Over  twenty-two  years  have 
elapsed  since  that  evening,  yet  it  seems  as  but  yesterday 
when  we  recall  the  scene.  What  a  volume  of  sound  we 
put  into  that  chorus  !  We  felt  every  word  of  it,  and 
could  sing  "Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah!"  with  a  right 
good  will. 

We  slept  sound  during  the  night,  and  at  nine  o'clock 
on  the  following  morning,  the  19th,  began  our  return 
march,  reaching  our  camp  ground  in  front  of  Jackson  at 
noon.  After  dinner  we  visited  the  town  and  were  much 
amused  by  a  tobacconist,  who  tried  hard  to  sell  us  some 
of  his  "  Killikinnick  •'  for  "ten  dollars  a  pound,  Confeder 
ate  money,  or  one  dollar  in  greenbacks."  We  could  n't 
catch  him  as  we  did  the  "  True  Southerner  "  at  Fredericks- 
burgh. 

Reveille  at  half -past  two  on  the  morning  of  the  20th 
woke  us  up,  and  an  hour  later  we  were  in  line  on  the 
road.  After  an  eighteen-mile  march — a  long  tramp,  and 
a  hot  one  after  the  sun  rose — we  bivouacked  for  the 
night.  The  next  day  was  the  second  anniversary  of  the 
First  Bull  Bun,  and  during  the  forenoon  the  tedium  of 
the  march  was  relieved  by  reminiscences  of  the  days 
when  we  were  "green."  The  heat  this  day  was  intense, 
and  at  ten  o'clock  the  column  halted  and  remained  in 
bivouac  till  four  in  the  afternoon.  At  five  o'clock  we 
passed  Boltoii — or."Eainy  Camp" — our  stopping  place 
on  the  night  of  the  P>th,  and  at  eight  o'clock  halted  for 
the  night,  bivouacking  in  a  corn-field  near  the  Big  Black. 
Our  wagons  had  not  come  up  ;  we  had  no  coffee  and 
only  half  rations  of  crackers,  but  as  the  corn  was  handy 
we  plucked  and  ate  that ;  the  stalks,  too,  when  cut  and 
laid  in  the  furrows,  made  a  cool  and  comfortable  bed. 
If  Zadoc  Pratt  had  been  one  of  our  number,  he  might 
have  been  tempted  to  modify  his  encomium  on  leather, 


320  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

and  to  exclaim— as  many  of  us  did— "There's  nothing 
like  corn  ! " 

At  eleven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  we  left 
our  bivouac,  and  at  noon  crossed  the  river.  While 
working  our  way  through  the  bottom  lands,  and  the 
immense  corn-field  in  which  many  of  our  men  dropped 
out  on  the  6th,  we  felt  like  travelers  in  the  desert,  and 
strained  our  eyes  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  some  friendly 
shade.  Most  of  the  men  stopped  to  rest,  but  a  few 
pushed  on  till  they  caught  sight  of  a  tree  on  a  little  rise 
of  ground  half  a  mile  distant.  It  was  like  the  shadow 
of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land,  and  every  nerve  was 
strained  to  reach  the  desired  haven,  that  we  might  spend 
a  few  moments  beneath  its  friendly  shade  before  the 
column  should  pass. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  we  halted  in  a  piece  of  woods, 
near  which  was  a  pond  of  surface  water.  We  embraced 
the  opportunity  to  wash  our  underclothes,  and  while  the 
articles  were  hanging  on  the  bushes  to  dry,  spent  the 
time  sporting  about  in  the  water.  A  heavy  shower  vis 
ited  us  here,  and  those  not  already  in  the  water  hurried 
off  their  clothes,  put  them  under  shelter  to  keep  dry, 
and  jumped  into  the  water  to  get  out  of  the  wet.  We 
were  like  a  parcel  of  school  boys  enjoying  a  vacation  ;  the 
pond  was  very  shallow  and  the  presence  of  so  many 
active  bodies  soon  roiled  the  water,  but  that  did  n't  mat 
ter  ;  we  played  leap-frog  and  tag  until  the  rain  was  over. 
On  resuming  our  march  on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  we 
found  the  rain  had  laid  the  dust  and  the  road  was  in 
excellent  condition.  At  nine  o'clock  we  reached  Flower 
Hill,  and  by  noon  were  at  Milldale. 

As  to  the  result  of  the  Jackson  campaign,  General 
Sherman,  in  his  memoirs,  says  :  "In  the  attack  on  Jack 
son,  Mississippi,  during  the  llth-16th  of  July,  General 
Ord  reported  the  loss  in  the  Thirteenth  Corps  seven  hun 
dred  and  sixty-two,  of  whom  five  hundred  and  thirty- 


1863.  "STARVE  THE  REBELS  OUT."  321 

three  were  confined  to  Lauman's  division  ;  General  Parke 
reported,  in  the  Ninth  corps,  thirty -seven  killed,  two 
hundred  and  fifty-eight  wounded,  and  thirty-three  miss 
ing  ;  total,  three  hundred  and  twenty-eight.  In  the 
Fifteenth  corps  the  loss  was  less,  so  that  in  the  aggre 
gate  the  loss  reported  by  me  at  the  time  was  less  than  a 
thousand  men,  while  we  took  that  number  alone  of  pris 
oners." 

Badeau,  in  his  "Military  History  of  U.  S.  Grant," 
says:  "The  result  of  the  entire  Vicksburg  campaign 
was,  the  defeat  of  the  rebels  in  five  battles  outside  of 
Vicksburg,  the  occupation  of  Jackson,  and  the  capture 
of  Vicksburg  and  its  garrison  and  munitions  of  war ;  a 
loss  to  the  enemy  of  forty  thousand  prisoners,  at  least 
twelve  thousand  killed  and  wounded,  and  thousands  of 
stragglers,  who  were  never  collected  and  reorganized  ;  in 
all  an  army  of  sixty  thousand  soldiers.  Grant's  loss  in 
the  entire  series  of  battles  and  assaults,  including  the 
casualties  of  the  siege,  was  twelve  hundred  and  forty- 
three  killed,  seven  thousand  and  ninety-five  wounded, 
and  five  hundred  and  thirty-five  missing;  total,  eight 
thousand,  eight  hundred  and  seventy- three." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  Highlanders  felt  proud  of 
the  humble  part  performed  by  them  in  the  campaign  so 
auspiciously  closed.  It  did  seem  good  to  realize  that  we 
not  only  whipped  the  enemy,  but  that  our  success  was 
so  well  followed  up  that  the  final  account  showed  such  a 
large  balance  in  our  favor.  How  different  from  our 
Virginia  and  Maryland  campaigns  ! 

It  may  be  remembered  that  one  of  the  favorite  recipes, 
proposed  by  some  of  the  Northern  papers  at  this  time,  to 
end  the  rebellion,  was  to  -"starve  the  rebels  out."  If 
this  idea  ever  entered  the  minds  of  any  of  the  High 
landers,  observations  made  during  the  campaign  just 
closed  served  to  correct  the  erroneous  impression.  On 
our  arrival  we  had  noticed  the  immense  fields  of  com 

21 


322  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

and  the  absence  of  "King  Cotton,"  as  well  as  other 
crops  usually  grown  in  the  South,  and  in  answer  to  our 
queries,  were  informed  by  the  planters  that  it  was  by 
the  direction  or  advice  of  the  Confederate  government. 
"  Plant  all  the  corn  you  can  mid  room  for ;  if  you  have 
not  help  enough  the  army  will  assist  you.  The  corn  is 
needed  to  feed  the  army  and  the  people."  So  corn  was 
planted  and  enthroned  as  king. 

"  Cotton  and  Corn  were  mighty  kings, 
Who  differed  at  times  on  certain  things, 

To  the  country's  dire  confusion : 
Corn  was  peaceable,  mild  and  just, 
But  Cotton  was  fond  of  saying  'you  must;' 
So,  after  he  'd  boasted,  bullied  and  cussed, 

He  got  up  a  revolution. 

But  in  the  course  of  time  the  bubble  is  bursted, 
And  Corn  is  king,  and  Cotton  was  worsted." 

Every  available  spot  of  ground  was  covered  and  we 
saw  enough  growing  during  our  campaign  which,  if  har 
vested,  would  support  the  whole  rebel  army  for  a  year  ; 
and  this  was  only  in  a  small  portion  of  the  State.  The 
thought  naturally  occurred  that  if  other  sections  had 
done  their  share,  the  idea  of  "starving  the  rebels  out" 
was  absurd.  The  men  who  could  maintain  a  martial 
spirit  by  subsisting  on  "hog  and  hominy,"  and  that  pre 
pared  in  the  rudest  manner,  were  110  mean  antagonists, 
and  must  be  killed  or  captured  in  order  to  end  the  war. 

On  the  28th,  the  following  order  was  read  to  the  regi 
ment  : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  FIRST  BRIGADE, 

FIRST  DIVISION,  NINTH  ARMY  CORPS. 
"GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  1: 

In  compliance  with  General  Order,  No.  48,  from  Divi- 
.sion  Headquarters,  the  undersigned  hereby  assumes  com 
mand  of  the  First  brigade,  consisting  of  the  following 
regiments  :  1st,  Seventy -ninth  N.  Y.  Yols. ;  2nd,  Eighth 
Michigan  Vols. ;  3rd,  Forty-fifth  Pennsylvania  Vols. ;  4th, 


1863.  OUR   RETURN   NORTHWARD.  323 

Thirty-sixth  Massachusetts  Vols.  ;  5th,  Twenty-seventh 
Michigan  Vols.  Regimental  commanders  will  send  all 
reports  to  these  Headquarters  accordingly. 

By  order  of  D.  MORRISON, 

Colonel  Commanding. 
Official.        JOHN  WINDSOR, 

Capt.  and  A.  A.  A.  G." 

Colonel  Morrison,  as  has  been  noted,  had,  at  various 
times,  been  temporarily  assigned  to  the  command  of  a 
brigade,  and  now  that  one  had  been  assigned  to  him  in 
general  orders,  we  felt  that  sterling  merit  was  receiving 
its  just  reward.  The  general  officers  of  the  corps  had 
already  recommended  Colonel  Morrison  to  a  Brigadier- 
generalship,  but  the  roster  of  that  rank  was  already  so 
full  that  the  appointment  was  withheld  till  the  close  of 
the  war. 

While  lying  at  Milldale  the  camp  hospitals  were  full, 
and  while  the  proportion  from  the  Highlanders  was  small, 
even  that  was  perceptibly  felt  in  our  thin  ranks.  On  the 
2nd  of  August,  General  Grant's  congratulatory  address 
was  read  to  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  by  its  provisions 
"  Vicksburg  "  and  "  Jackson  "  were  to  be  inscribed  on  our 
flags  and  guidons.  At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th,  the  reveille  awakened  us,  and  at  four  o'clock,  together 
with  the  Eleventh  New  Hampshire,  Thirty-fifth  Massa 
chusetts  and  the  Fifty-first  New  York,  the  Highlanders 
embarked  on  the  steamer  Planet,  and  at  nine  in  the 
evening  started  on  our  return  northward  to  take  part  in 
the  deliverance  of  East  Tennessee. 


324  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  August, 


CHAPTEE  XXI. 

FROM  MISSISSIPPI  TO  EAST  TENNESSEE. 

CINCINNATI  and  Covington. — Nicholasville. — Crab  Orchard. — Imprisonment  of 
Provost  Marshal  Belcher. — Grapes  and  Mineral  Water. — Off  for  Tennessee. — 
The  Army  Mule. — Wild  Cat  Mountain. — Massachusetts  Men. — Cumberland 
Gap.— Fording  Clinch  River. — Perils  of  Mountain  Travel. — Biscuit  and 
Tobacco  Juice. — Snuff  Dipping. — Strawberry  Plains. — Knoxville. — Parson 
Brownlow. — General  Burnside. 

XT OTHING  of  any  special  importance  occurred  on  our 
•^  trip  up  the  Mississippi.  Colonel  Morrison,  with  the 
other  regiments  of  his  brigade  on  the  steamer  Hiawatha, 
had  preceded  us,  but  we  found  plenty  of  friendly  com 
rades  among  the  regiments  on  board  the  Planet.  General 
Welsh  and  staff  were  with  us,  the  General  sick  with 
fever.  Cairo  was  reached  at  seven  o'clock  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  12th,  and  at  four  in  the  afternoon  we  left  on 
the  cars,  reaching  Cincinnati  at  half -past  three  on  the 
morning  of  the  lith.  We  marched  to  the  market  at 
seven,  and  after  waiting  till  ten  o'clock,  got  our  break 
fast.  We  then  crossed  the  river  to  Covington,  Ky., 
where  we  joined  the  brigade,  and  when  our  tents  were 
pitched,  we  began  to  wonder — What  next  ? 

At  seven  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  the  17th,  we 
broke  camp,  and  at  noon  were  on  the  cars  of  the  Lexing 
ton  and  Covington  railroad.  Paris  was  passed  at  five 
o'clock  and  Lexington  at  midnight,  and  at  half -past  three 
the  next  morning  we  arrived  at  Nicholasville,  the  termi 
nus  of  the  railroad.  (See  map  No.  13.)  We  marched 
four  miles  out  on  the  Crab  Orchard  turnpike  and  camped 


1863.  THE   DOUGHTY   CAPTAIN.  325 

in  a  beautiful  grove,  where  a  plentiful  supply  of  good 
water  was  found.  While  here  the  news  of  the  death  of 
General  Welsh  was  received,  and  General  Ferrero  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  division.  A  number  of 
our  men  who  had  stood  the  Mississippi  campaign  without 
faltering,  now  gave  out  and  were  sent  to  the  hospital ; 
the  reaction  had  taken  place,  and  the  seeds  of  disease 
sown  in  July  germinated  in  August.  Our  ranks  when 
on  parade  were  very  thin,  less  than  two  hundred  men 
being  in  line.  Before  leaving,  however,  the  sick  men 
began  to  show  marked  signs  of  improvement.  At  five 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  we  were  on  the 
march,  headed  south,  and  reached  camp  Dick  Robinson 
at  noon,  where  we  remained  till  the  next  morning. 

Captain  Belcher,  of  the  Eighth  Michigan,  had  been 
provost  marshal  for  some  time,  and  was  as  well  known 
to  us  as  any  of  our  own  officers.  Several  of  the  High 
landers  had  felt  the  weight  of  his  authority  at  various 
times  and  were  anxious  for  a  chance  to  square  accounts 
with  him,  and  at  camp  "Dick"  the  opportunity  occurred. 
A  number  of  our  men  had  visited  ' '  the  cave  well, "  so  called 
because  of  its  being  located  in  a  cave,  the  mouth  of 
which  was  so  contracted  that,  in  order  to  enter,  a  person 
was  obliged  to  crawl  on  hands  and  knees.  On  the  rep 
resentation  of  some  of  the  Highlanders  that  the  cave 
contained,  besides  the  beautiful  spring  of  clear  sparkling 
water,  some  beautiful  specimens  of  stalactites  and  sta 
lagmites,  Captain  Belcher  was  induced  to  enter.  He  was 
no  sooner  in,  however,  than  the  narrow  entrance  was 
blocked  up  with  large  stones,  rolled  there  by  some  of 
the  wags,  and  the  doughty  Captain  was  kept  a  close 
prisoner  until  some  one,  out  of  sympathy  for  his  condi 
tion,  liberated  him.  Of  course  it  was  never  discovered 
who  played  the  practical  joke,  and  the  Captain  made  a 
virtue  of  necessity  and  was  silent. 

Crab  Orchard  was  reached  at  eleven  A.  M.  on  the  29th, 


326  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

and  our  camp  was  pitched  near  some  mineral  springs, 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  town.  If,  as  we  now 
believed,  we  were  going  to  march  over  the  mountains  into 
East  Tennessee,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  first  get 
the  men  in  condition  to  undergo  the  fatigue  of  such  a 
journey  ;  it  was  thought  the  waters  might  check  the  Mis 
sissippi  fever,  from  which  many  of  the  men  still  suffered. 
Before  the  war  the  place  had  been  a  famous  resort  for 
invalids,  and  we  found  a  number  of  springs  in  which  iron 
seemed  to  predominate,  but  whether  the  men  drank  very 
much  of  the  "loud  "  tasting  waters  does  not  appear.  One 
day  a  little  party  of  us  gathered  at  a  spring,  adjoining 
which  was  a  vineyard  —  the  grapes  ripe,  or  nearly  so. 
We  ate  and  drank,  and  drank  and  ate,  till  we  considered 
ourselves  thoroughly  dosed,  but  did  not  repeat  the  opera 
tion  at  any  of  our  subsequent  visits,  being  satisfied  with 
the  grapes  alone. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  when  ordered  on  the  march, 
there  were  less  than  two  hundred  men  in  line,  the  other 
regiments  being  even  in  a  worse  condition.  Eight  hun 
dred  from  the  First  brigade  of  our  division  were  left  in 
charge  of  the  surgeons.  We  were  obliged  to  shoulder  our 
knapsacks,  and  also  to  carry  in  our  haversacks  eight  days' 
rations  of  crackers,  besides  three  of  meat. 

Just  as  the  march  began,  Lieutenant-Colonel  More  left 
for  New  York  to  enjoy  a  few  days  of  rest,  but  when  he 
reached  home  found  his  services  in  such  demand  that  there 
was  really  no  rest  for  him.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival, 
drafted  men  and  substitutes  were  being  sent  to  the  army, 
many  of  whom — professional  bounty  jumpers — deserted 
before  the  front  was  reached.  The  authorities,  well  know 
ing  the  character  of  our  ' '  Old  War  Horse, "  seized  upon  him 
at  once,  and  by  representing  that  he  was  the  only  officer 
in  the  city  who  could  handle  such  a  turbulent  lot,  he  was 
persuaded  to  turn  in  and  help.  Two  trips  were  made  to 
Charleston  Harbor  before  the  Colonel  was  relieved  from 


1863.  BEHIND   A   WAGON   TRAIN.  327 

this  unpleasant  duty,  and  then  only  because  of  his  ap 
pealing  to  the  Secretary  of  War  to  be  allowed  to  return 
to  his  regiment.  The  Colonel  relates  that  on  the  first  of 
his  trips,  he  had  a  lot  of  the  hardest  looking  recruits  it 
was  ever  his  lot  to  muster  —  regular  bounty  jumpers, 
nearly  all  — many  of  them  desperate  characters;  they 
were  on  board  the  vessel  ready  to  sail,  but  the  govern 
ment  had  not  yet  appointed  the  commanding  officer. 
The  authorities  were  waiting  for  just  such  an  officer  as 
our  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

When  informed  of  the  character  of  his  charge,  he  said : 
' '  Give  me  a  good  guard  of  regulars  and  I  will  deliver  the 
recruits  at  their  destination,  alive  or  dead."  And  he 
delivered  them,  although  he  was  obliged  to  shoot  one  or 
two  on  the  voyage.  On  his  second  trip  he  had  no  trouble 
whatever ;  his  reputation  was  enough  to  insure  the 
utmost  obedience  on  the  part  of  his  heterogeneous  com 
mand.  This  duty  kept  Colonel  More  absent  from  the 
regiment  during  the  ensuing  campaign,  and  the  command 
devolved  mostly  on  Captain  Montgomery,  Major  Simpson 
being  at  times  much  indisposed,  and,  as  active  operations 
in  the  field  developed,  almost  totally  unfit  for  duty. 

To  return  to  our  narrative  :  Eight  miles  was  the  extent 
of  our  march  on  the  10th,  and  short  as  it  was  many  were 
compelled  to  lag  behind.  The  road  was  bad  and  filled 
with  small  stones,  among  which  we  were  obliged  to  pick 
our  steps.  The  Highlanders,  having  the  right  of  line, 
escaped  the  clouds  of  dust  which  those  in  the  rear  were 
compelled  to  breathe,  and  which  renders  a  march  on  a 
hot  day  very  unpleasant.  On  the  llth,  however,  we 
caught  it.  We  were  the  extreme  rear  regiment  of  the 
division,  and  were  obliged  to  see  all  the  teams  up,  and 
that  none  of  the  men  were  left  behind.  Nothing  more 
exasperating  than  marching  behind  a  wagon  train  can 
well  be  devised.  Very  often  a  mule  would  give  out,  or 
the  team  become  stalled  in  a  rough  part  of  the  road  ;  in 


328  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

such  cases  we  were  obliged  either  to  put  our  shoulders  to 
the  wheels  and  help  them  out,  or  wait  till  the  broken- 
down  animals  could  be  replaced.  Occasionally  a  wagon 
would  upset ;  if  an  axle  or  wheel  was  broken  the  contents 
would  be  transferred  to  the  other  wagons,  and  the  wreck 
abandoned.  The  poor  animals  suffered  terribly  on  this 
march,  the  loads  being  heavy  enough  for  a  six-mule  team 
on  a  good  road,  while  our  wagons  were  each  drawn  by 
only  four  half -starved  animals. 

Our  route  lay  up  the  side  of  Wild  Cat  Mountain.  It 
was  like  going  up  a  flight  of  stairs ;  the  road-bed  was 
solid  rock,  and  the  men  were  often  obliged  to  use  their 
muskets  like  alpenstocks  to  help  them  climb  the  hill. 
The  mules  did  their  best,  but  several  teams  gave  out  com 
pletely,  the  men  being  obliged  to  haul  the  wagons  up  by 
means  of  ropes.  We  passed  the  battle-ground  where,  on 
the  21st  of  October,  1861,  the  Confederates,  under  Zolli- 
coffer,  attacked  and  were  defeated  by  the  Union  forces 
under  General  Schoepf.  When  we  reached  camp  that 
evening  at  eight  o'clock,  and  found  that  the  two  or  three 
wagons  we  had  left  stuck  in  the  bed  of  a  stream  a  mile  or 
two  in  the  rear,  contained  the  knapsacks  of  those  who 
had  been  on  guard  the  night  before,  and  all  our  camp- 
kettles  and  coffee,  we  were  very  much  disgusted.  Too 
tired  to  think  of  going  back  after  them,  we  lay  down  on 
the  bare  ground  beside  the  fires,  and  without  either  coffee 
for  the  inner,  or  blankets  for  the  outer  man,  slept  more 
or  less  soundly  till  three  o'clock  on  the  following  morning, 
the  12th.  The  night  had  been  quite  cold,  and  those  who 
had  slept  "out  of  doors"  presented  a  rather  demoralized 
appearance. 

The  wagons  had  not  come  up,  and  the  prospect  of 
starting  on  the  march  without  our  coffee  was  not  pleas 
ant  ;  neither  was  it  necessary  as  long  as  the  Eighth 
Michigan  was  near  by.  As  soon  as  those  generous  fel 
lows  learned  of  our  destitute  condition,  kettles  and  coffee 


1863.  REBEL  PRISONERS.  329 

were  at  our  service,  and  we  were  able  to  start  at  the 
proper  time  fully  refreshed.  Ten  miles  was  the  extent 
of  our  journey  this  day,  and  that  was  accomplished  by 
noon.  Halting  near  a  spring  of  fine  clear  water,  we 
were  told  to  make  ourselves  comfortable,  as  we  would 
probably  remain  for  n  day  or  two,  and  as  the  wagons 
came  up  in  the  afternoon,  we  were  soon  lying  down 
under  our  shelter-tents  enjoying  the  rest. 

The  rations  of  meat  brought  from  Crab  Orchard  gave 
out  here,  and  there  being  little  prospect  of  our  getting 
any  more  from  the  commissary,  the  men  foraged  to  sup 
ply  their  needs,  although  strict  orders  had  been  issued 
against  such  pillaging.  Shortly  after  a  party  had  re 
turned  to  camp  with  the  carcass  of  a  pig,  the  owner  was 
seen  at  headquarters,  and  it  was  learned  he  had  demand 
ed  pay  for  four  pigs  that  "a  party  of  the  Seventy-Ninth 
New  York  rigiment  had  killed."  A  strict  search  was 
made  throughout  the  camp  but  no  fresh  pork  was  found, 
and  the  farmer  was  told  that  he  must  have  made  a  mis 
take  in  the  "rigiment." 

During  the  night  a  heavy  rain-storm  visited  our  camp, 
and  as  our  "shelters"  had  been  pitched  in  a  very  temporary 
manner,  many  of  the  men  awoke  to  find  themselves 
lying  in  puddles  of  water.  Sunday  was  spent  in  drying 
our  clothes,  and  at  four  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  the 
14th,  we  resumed  our  march.  Early  in  the  day  we  were 
informed  by  some  of  the  natives  that  a  large  number  of 
rebel  prisoners,  who  had  been  captured  at  Cumberland 
Gap,  were  on  their  way  north  in  charge  of  some  Ohio 
troops,  and  that  we  would  soon  meet  them.  About  noon 
they  appeared,  two  thousand  of  them,  and  both  columns 
happening  to  halt  near  each  other,  an  opportunity  was 
given  for  a  little  social  intercourse.  All  of  their  officers 
who  would  give  their  parole  had  been  allowed  to  go  to 
their  homes  ;  but  a  few,  and  among  them  their  com 
mander,  General  Frazer,  had  declined  the  olfer  and 


330  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September,, 

accompanied  their  men.  Many  of  the  enlisted  soldiers 
acknowledged  they  had  been  fighting  in  an  unjust  cause, 
and  declared  they  were  ready  to  come  back  into  the 
Union  and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  One  North 
Carolinian  said  he  would  never  fire  another  gun  in  the 
rebel  service  as  long  as  he  lived  ;  that  he  found  out  he 
"was  wrong  in  fighting  against  the  Union,"  and  that 
about  thirty  of  his  regiment,  who  were  with  him,  were 
"ready  to  take  the  oath  to  support  the  old  Union  and 
assist  in  putting  down  the  rebellion."  This  seemed  to  be 
the  sentiment  of  a  great  many,  while  others  among  them 
were  still  as  staunch  rebels  as  ever. 

Most  of  the  poor  fellows  were  hungry,  and  we  shared 
our  crackers  with  them  ;  they  had  been  living  principally 
on  flour  rolled  into  dough  and  baked  on  stones  before  the 
fire,  or  toasted  on  the  ends  of  ramrods.  Their  gray  uni 
forms  were  in  fair  condition,  but  they  had  no  extra 
clothing.  Considerable  amusement  was  provided  when 
some  of  them  asked  if  there  were  "any  Mass'chusetts 
men"  in  our  command.  They  had  "heerd  tell  about 
Mass'chusetts  men,"  and  were  anxious,  apparently,  to 
see  whether  they  really  did  wear  horns  and  tails  !  We 
explained  matters  to  the  men  of  the  Thirty-Sixth  Massa 
chusetts,  and  soon  a  half-dozen  of  the  tallest  of  that 
regiment — one,  whom  we  had  dubbed  "the  infant," 
being  nearly  seven  feet,  while  his  companions  were  all 
over  six  feet  tall — were  presented  to  the  Confederates, 
with  an  apology  for  being  compelled  to  show  the  small 
ones,  the  big  fellows  being  at  that  moment  away  on 
some  special  duty ! 

A  brief  resume  from  ' '  Burnside  and  the  Ninth  Corps, " 
will  serve  to  explain  the  condition  of  affairs  at  this  time. 
On  the  16th  of  August,  when  the  Ninth  corps  had  arrived 
at  Cincinnati,  General  Burnside,  with  the  Twenty-Third 
corps,  started  from  Lexington,  and,  crossing  the  moun 
tains  by  unfrequented  roads  south  of  Cumberland  Gap, 


1863.  PICTURESQUE   SCENERY.  331 

had  occupied  Knoxville,  Kingston  and  Clinton  without 
fighting  a  battle.  General  Buckner,  the  Confederate 
commander,  seemed  completely  bewildered  by  the  sud 
denness  of  Burnside's  movement,  and  as  the  Union 
troops  entered  Tennessee  at  several  different  points,  he 
supposed  the  force  much  larger  than  the  reality.  In  his 
haste  to  get  out  of  the  way  and  join  Bragg  in  the  vicinity 
of  Chattanooga,  the  garrison  at  Cumberland  Gap,  left  to 
its  own  resources,  had  fallen  an  easy  prey  to  the  Union 
troops. 

After  bidding  good-bye  to  the  prisoners  we  marched  a 
few  miles  further,  and  at  three  P.  M.  went  into  bivouac. 
Starting  at  five  o'clock  on  the  15th,  Barttoursville,  on  the 
Cumberland  river,  was  reached  at  half  an  hour  after 
noon,  and  there  we  remained  till  the  morning  of  the 
16th,  when  we  followed  along  the  north  bank  of  the 
river,  and  at  noon  reached  Pague's  Mills,  a  point  within 
six  miles  of  Cumberland  Ford.  We  remained  here  till 
the  19th,  a  heavy  rain  on  the  17th  having  rendered  the 
river  unfordable  till  that  time.  Crossing  the  river,  we 
marched  about  four  miles  up  the  valley,  and  at  noon 
halted  near  the  village  of  Cumberland,  ten  miles  distant 
from  the  Gap.  We  were  off  bright  and  early  on  the 
20th,  and  although  the  road  was  rough  and  steep,  we 
trudged  along  cheerfully,  believing  that  when  the  sum 
mit  was  reached  the  rest  of  the  way  would  be  easier. 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  Gap  was  reached,  where  we  halted 
for  a  few  minutes  to  enjoy  the  view.  While  pure  senti 
ment  did  not  enter  very  largely  into  the  consideration  of 
our  surroundings,  we  could  not  help  admiring  the  wild 
and  picturesque  scenery  through  which  we  passed. 
Adjutant  Eanlett,  before  quoted,  says:  "The  march 
was  relieved  of  much  of  its  tediousness  by  the  grandeur 
of  the  scenery.  As  the  regiment  moved  from  one  height 
to  another  of  the  range  of  hills,  the  scene  in  every  direc 
tion  was  magnificent,  and  when  at  length  the  Gap  was 


332 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS. 


September, 


reached,  there  was  a  universal  expression  of  admiration. 
The  range  of  hills  and  the  valleys  of  the  Tennessee 
stretching  away  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  Great 
Smoky  Eaiige  of  North  Carolina  bounding  the  southern 
horizon,  it  seemed  incredible  to  all  that  this  place,  a  per 
fect  Gibralter,  should  have  been  surrendered  as  it  was. 


CAMPAIGN. 

1863-4. 


Fortified  extensively  with  bomb  proofs,  it  seemed  as  if  a 
few  resolute  men  could  hold  it  against  an  army,  and  so 
they  could ;   but,  alas  for  the  South  !    Frazer  was  no 
Leonidas  !" 
By  the  side  of  the  road  on  the  summit,  the  stone  mark- 


1863.  FROM   LEDGE   TO   LEDGE.  333 

ing  the  southeast  corner  of  Kentucky,  the  southwest 
corner  of  Virginia,  and  the  northern  line  of  Tennessee, 
was  observed,  and  many  of  the  boys  "stood  in  three 
States  at  once"  by  placing  themselves  on  top  of  the 
stone.  We  marched  about  two  miles  beyond  the  Gap 
and  bivouacked  in  Tennessee. 

On  Monday,  the  21st,  we  marched  about  eighteen 
miles,  passing  through  Tazewell,  which  showed  very 
plainly  the  ravages  of  war.  Many  of  the  best  houses 
had  been  owned  by  Union  people,  who  had  been  driven 
away  and  their  homes  burned  to  the  ground.  At  nine 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  we  forded  the  Clinch 
river,  and  the  water  being  from  two  to  three  feet  deep  in 
places,  we  were  obliged'  to  strip,  and  carry  our  clothes 
over  on  our  shoulders.  In  order  to  protect  our  feet  from 
the  sharp  stones,  our  shoes  were  kept  on.  They  received 
a  thorough  soaking,  of  course,  and  as  we  climbed  the 
Clinch  mountain  they  were  twisted  out  of  shape  ;  the 
leather  seemed  to  be  about  as  porous  and  pliable  as  blot 
ting-paper. 

Wild  Cat  we  thought  was  a  rough  mountain,  but  the 
one  we  were  now  ascending  was  indeed  a  Clinch(er). 
The  ascent  was  accomplished  without  accident,  but  at  an 
immense  expenditure  of  strength  in  pulling  the  wagons 
to  the  summit.  Before  the  attempt  was  made  to  lower 
them  on  the  other  side,  the  troops  were  allowed  to  get 
well  down  into  the  valley  out  of  the  way.  Ropes  were 
then  attached  to  the  rear  axles,  a  hitch  taken  around  a 
convenient  tree,  and  the  end  held  by  a  dozen  or  more 
men  ;  in  this  way  the  work  progressed  from  ledge  to 
ledge  till  it  was  accomplished.  On  two  occasions  the  rope 
broke,  and  the  wagons,  with  mules  attached,  rolled 
down  the  precipice  and  were  dashed  to  pieces.  A  battery 
wagon,  filled  with  tools,  w^as  lost  in  this  way,  but,  for 
tunately,  the  horses  had  been  removed  and  thus  escaped. 
About  six  miles  beyond  Clinch  mountain  we  came  to  the 


33-t  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

Holston  river,  which  was  also  forded,  but  the  country 
was  level  now,  and  the  perils  of  mountain  travel  were 
left  behind.  At  half -past  eight  in  the  evening  we  bivou 
acked  at  Morristown,  a  village  on  the  East  Tennessee  and 
Virginia  railroad.  We  had  marched  nearly  twenty  miles 
during  the  day  and  were  glad  to  lie  down.  The  wagons 
failed  to  put  in  an  appearance  and  so  we  had  no  coffee. 
Our  crackers  had  all  been  eaten,  but  we  were  too  tired  to 
forage,  and  after  swallowing  a  big  drink  of  water  and 
taking  an  extra  hitch  in  our  waist-belts,  we  rolled  our 
selves  in  our  blankets  and  lay  down  to  dream  of  what  a 
nice  supper  we  might  have  had. 

The  wagons  came  up  with  our  camp  kettles  and  coffee 
on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  but  there  were  no  crackers, 
and  the  men  soon  scattered  about  the  town,  looking  for 
biscuit,  which  we  bought  for  twenty-five  cents  a  dozen- 
not  a  high  price,  when  the  scarcity  of  wheat  flour  was 
taken  into  account.  Right  here  may  be  a  good  place  to 
mention  a  custom  of  the  women  of  East  Tennessee,  but 
which,  unfortunately,  was  not  confined  to  that  section 
of  the  South  :  One  of  our  men  had  called  at  a  house  and 
engaged  a  couple  of  dozen  biscuit,  and  having  nothing 
particular  to  do,  thought  he  would  wait  till  they  were 
baked.  As  he  chatted  with  the  "lady  of  the  house" 
while  she  prepared  the  flour  for  the  baking  pans,  he  saw 
her  turning  towards  the  fire-place  occasionally,  but 
thought  nothing  of  it  till  he  noticed  two  dark  streaks 
reaching  down  from  the  corners  of  her  mouth.  She 
again  bent  her  head  over  the  fire-place,  and  the  watchful 
Highlander  saw  ejected  into  the  ashes  nearly  a  gill  of 
tobacco  juice  !  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  ever  noticed 
a  woman  chewing  tobacco,  and  it  almost  turned  his 
stomach.  But  that  was  n't  all.  With  the  back  of  her 
hand  she  "wiped  off  her  chin,"  and  without  wiping  her 
hand  resumed  the  kneading  of  the  dough  !  That  was  too 
much  !  Hastily  rising,  he  left  the  house,  saying  he 
would  call  again  for  the  biscuit — but  he  did  n't. 


!863.  THE   SNUFF-STICKS.  335 

Smoking  was  a  universal  custom,  even  among  young 
girls.  As  we  marched  along  the  roads  they  would  stand 
in  the  door- ways  of  the  houses,  watching  us,  and  pulling 
away  on  the  little  red-clay  or  corn-cob  pipes,  just  like 
the  men  or  older  women.  Snuff-dipping  was  indulged  in, 
too,  by  the  older  women,  and  whenever  or  wherever  two 
or  three  met,  one  was  sure  to  bring  out  her  little  tin  box 
and,  with  a  short  stick,  chewed  at  the  end  to  make  it 
brush-like,  dip  into  the  snuff,  and  rub  the  "macca- 
boy  "  about  over  her  gums.  The  box  was  passed  around 
the  party,  who  followed  the  example  of  the  one  who 
<k  treated,"  but  each  individual  used  her  own  stick.  It 
seemed  to  be  a  point  of  etiquette  that  the  snuff-sticks, 
like  tooth-brushes,  should  not  be  transferable.  A 
woman,  at  whose  house  one  of  our  number  stopped  for 
a  drink  of  water,  tried  hard  to  buy  or  trade  for  the 
Highlander's  briar- wood  pipe.  She  first  offered  twenty- 
five  cents  for  it,  and  when  that  was  refused,  raised  the 
bid  to  fifty.  She  '"lowed"  she  would  ulike  a  pipe  like 
that,"  but  inasmuch  as  the  Highlander  had  paid  seventy- 
five  cents  for  the  article,  and  had  spent  some  time  in 
coloring  it,  he  declined  the  trade.  She  finally  asked  for 
a  "chaw  o'  plug  terbacker,"  which  was  given  her,  and 
the  Yankee  passed  on.  The  natives  generally  smoked 
and  chewed  the  natural  leaf,  each  family  raising  their 
own  supply.  If  any  room  was  left  in  their  little  kitchen- 
garden  after  the  tobacco  was  planted,  then  they  would 
also  raise  a  few  vegetables — but  tobacco  seemed  to  be 
the  staff  of  life. 

The  defeat  of  General  Rosecrans  at  Chicamauga  on 
the  20th,  now  caused  Burnside  to  hurry  forward  troops 
to  his  support.  The  Twenty-Third  corps  was  started, 
their  places  being  taken  by  ours,  and  at  two  P.  M.  of  the 
24th  we  were  ordered  to  proceed  with  all  possible  haste  to 
Knoxville.  Three  days'  rations  of  raw  flour  were  served 
out  on  starting,  but  we  had  no  convenient  means  of 


336  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

preparing  it  to  suit  our  delicate  stomachs.  A  month 
later  we  would  have  been  glad  of  raw  flour  or  anything 
else  that  would  have  helped  to  sustain  life.  "Well,  if 
we've  got  to  do  our  own  baking,  we'll  take  our  own  time 
whenever  it  suits  us."  So  said  the  foolish  boys  ;  some  of 
us  managed  to  trade  off  the  flour  for  biscuit  or  corn-bread 
before  leaving  town,  and  with  haversacks  well  filled 
started  on  the  march.  At  the  end  of  a  fourteen  mile 
tramp,  we  reached  Mossy  Creek  station  at  eight  P.  M., 
and  at  five  o'clock  the  following  morning  were  off  again, 
passing  through  New  Market  at  eight,  where  a  number 
of  us  hired  a  wagon  to  carry  our  knapsacks  to  Knoxville. 
Twenty-five  dollars  was  the  price  paid,  the  individual  cost 
being  about  twenty-five  cents.  Strawberry  Plains,  a  place 
with  which  we  were  to  become  better  acquainted  later  in 
the  campaign,  was  reached  at  ten  o'clock,  and  here  we 
stopped  for  dinner. 

At  the  moment  of  our  arrival  a  grand  feast  was  in 
progress,  given  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighborhood 
to  the  men  of  the  Twenty-third  corps  who  had  been  sta 
tioned  there,  but  were  now  ordered  away  ;  it  made  us 
feel  as  though  we  were  in  " God's  country"  again,  to  see 
the  people  treating  Union  soldiers  in  this  manner,  but 
we  were  obliged  to  tear  ourselves  away  from  such  pleasant 
associations,  and  at  noon  our  march  was  resumed.  When 
our  bivouac  was  reached  at  five  o'clock,  the  wagon  with 
our  knapsacks  had  not  arrived  ;  neither  had  it  put  in  an 
appearance  by  bed-time.  Those  of  our  comrades  who  had 
carried  their  own  knapsacks  were  comfortably  asleep 
under  their  shelter-tents,  but  a  few  of  us  found  a  stack 
of  straw  into  which  we  crawled,  and  were  soon  sound 
asleep,  nor  did  we  awake  till  the  bugle  sounded  the 
" assembly"  at  seven  o'clock  the  following  morning,  the 
26th.  We  found  the  men  had  been  up  for  an  hour  or 
more,  and  had  eaten  their  breakfast,  but  not  wishing  to 
be  deprived  of  ours,  we  concluded  to  wait  long  enough  to 


1863.  PARSON   BROWNLOW.  337 

broil  a  chop  and  prepare  some  coffee.  By  some  means  or 
other  a  quarter  of  mutton  was  in  our  possession,  and  we 
thought  that  a  portion  of  it  would  carry  better  in  our 
stomachs  than  in  our  haversacks. 

Knoxville  was  reached  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
our  camp  pitched  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  First 
Creek,  and  we  were  soon  engaged  in  the  ordinary  duties 
of  the  camp.  The  day  after  our  arrival,  one  of  our  men 
had  occasion  to  use  some  white  cotton  thread,  and  on 
inquiring  the  price  at  a  store  in  town,  was  asked  twenty- 
five  cents  a  spool  for  it !  This  beat  sutlers'  prices,  and 
showed  how  the  necessaries  of  life  had  appreciated  in 
value  by  reason  of  the  long  blockade  under  which  Knox 
ville  had  suffered. 

We  had  all  heard  of  Parson  Brownlow,  the  staunch 
Unionist,  Editor  and  Preacher.  A  Union  paper  was 
already  being  published  in  town,  which  contained  the 
announcement  that  the  "Parson "  was  expected  to  arrive 
soon,  with  a  complete  outfit  for  resuming  the  publication 
of  his  own  paper,  the  first  number  of  which  he  expected 
to  issue  on  the  15th  of  October,  that  being  the  second 
anniversary  of  the  suppression  of  the  Knoxville  Whig, 
his  former  publication.  The  character  of  the  resuscitated 
journal  may  be  indicated  by  the  new  title,  for  to  the  old 
"Knoxville  Whig"  was  to  be  added  "  And  Rebel  Venti 
lator."  The  fighting  Parson  made  a  decidedly  interesting 
and  lively  paper,  and  the  men  enjoyed  reading  it.  Brown- 
low  believed  in  personalities,  and  when  he  had  any  thing 
to  say  regarding  measures  or  individuals,  he  spoke  ' '  right 
out  in  meetin'."  Those  who  were  instrumental  in  his 
persecution  and  banishment  were  soundly  belabored - 
whether  they  remained  within  our  lines  or  not.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  the  "Parson"  became  Governor  of 
the  State  in  1865,  was  elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate  in  1869, 
and  died  at  Knoxville  in  1877. 

On  the  29th,  General  Burnside  visited  our  camp,  and 


338  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  September, 

received  a  cordial  greeting  ;  few  Generals  in  the  army  so 
endeared  themselves  to  their  men  as  did  Burnside  ;  even 
his  style  of  beard  gave  a  name  to  the  cut,  which  was 
adopted  by  many  of  the  men,  while  those  whose  beards 
were  not  yet  grown  mentally  vowed  to  adopt  the  style  as 
soon  as  the  hirsute  appendage  made  its  appearance. 


1863.  PUSHING   THE   CARS.  339 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN.—  BATTLES  OF  BLUE  SPRINGS 
AND  CAMPBELL'S  STATION. 

ADVANCE  of  the  Enemy  from  Virginia.  —  We  go  by  Rail  to  Rogersville  Junction. 
—  Lick  Creek.  —  Advance  to  Blue  Springs.  —  The  Charge.  —  Enemy  Routed.  — 
Failure  of  Colonel  Foster's  Cavalry  to  Intercept  their  Retreat.  —  March  to 
Rheatown.—  Our  Return.  —  Chaplain  Kennedy.  —  Campbell's  Station.  —  Driv 
ing  the  Enemy.  —  Loudon.  —  A  Foraging  Expedition.  —  Loudon  Evacuated.  — 
Lenoir.  —  Highlanders  at  Corps  Headquarters.  —  Winter  Quarters.  —  Crema 
tion.  —  Recruiting  in  East  Tennessee.  —  Another  Foraging  Expedition.  — 
Orders  to  Evacuate  Lenoir.  —  Confusion.  —  Burnside's  Arrival  Restores  Con 
fidence.  —  Longstreet's  Advance.  —  Chaplain  Kennedy's  Adventure.  —  Battle  of 
Campbell's  Station.  —  Gallant  Action  of  Morrison's  Brigade.  —  The  Line  of 
Battle.  —  Enemy  Repulsed. 


Twenty-Third  corps  was  recalled  before  reaching 
Eosecrans,  and  returned  to  Knoxville  in  time  to 
take  part  in  an  expedition  to  the  East.  The  enemy  was 
reported  advancing  from  Virginia  and  threatening  our 
communication  with  Cumberland  Gap,  and  on  the  3d  of 
October  our  troops  set  out  to  intercept  and  drive  him 
back.  Our  brigade,  as  the  advance  guard,  left  on  the 
cars  at  eight  A.  M.  and  reached  Rogersville  Junction  in 
the  afternoon.  The  distance  was  only  fifty-five  miles, 
but  the  road-bed  and  rolling  stock  were  in  such  a  demor 
alized  condition  that  the  men  were  often  obliged  to  get 
out  and  help  the  engine,  by  pushing  the  cars  on  the  up 
grades.  Rogersville  Junction  is  at  Bull's  Gap,  through 
which  the  railroad  makes  its  way  over  the  low  mountain 
range.  On  Sunday  the  4th  we  advanced  about  five  miles 
to  Lick  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  French  Broad  River, 


340  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  October, 

where  pickets  were  posted  and  preparations  made  to 
either  receive  or  attack  the  enemy.  We  learned  from 
prisoners  captured  by  the  cavalry  that  a  large  force  of 
the  enemy  were  at  Blue  Springs,  a  few  miles  distant, 
strongly  posted  and  determined  to  hold  their  position. 

Colonel  Morrison  was  ordered  to  hold  the  line  of  Lick 
Creek,  but  not  to  bring  on  an  engagement  until  the  rest 
of  the  troops — now  being  pushed  forward  by  General 
Burnside — should  arrive.  They  came  up  on  the  9th,  and 
Burnside  at  once  assumed  the  offensive  ;  extra  ammuni 
tion  was  issued,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  the 
entire  command  moved  forward.  When  our  cavalry 
encountered  the  enemy,  the  latter  fell  back  on  their 
reserves  and  maintained  a  lively  fire  on  our  skirmishers. 
We  expected  to  be  sent  in  at  once  to  drive  the  enemy 
from  their  position,  but  Burnside  wished  to  do  more 
than  whip  them  ;  he  hoped  to  capture  the  greater  part 
of  the  force,  and  while  we  held  our  ground  in  front, 
Colonel  Foster's  brigade  of  cavalry  was  dispatched  to 
seize  and  occupy  the  roads  in  the  Confederate  rear,  and 
thus  cut  off  their  retreat.  Our  position  was  maintained 
till  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  by  which  time  it  was 
supposed  Colonel  Foster  had  reached  the  desired  points, 
when  an  advance  was  ordered.  General  Burnside  rode 
to  the  front  and  ordered  Ferrero's  division  to  ' '  advance 
and  clear  out  that  piece  of  woods,"  where  the  enemy 
seemed  to  be  the  most  strongly  posted.  Our  brigade 
was  immediately  brought  up  and  the  Forty-Fifth  Penn 
sylvania  thrown  out  as  skirmishers  and  flankers. 

The  route  led  up  a  ravine  ;  the  Highlanders  were  at 
the  head  of  the  column,  and  the  intention  was  to  get  as 
near  as  possible  to  the  enemy's  position  before  forming 
in  line  for  the  charge.  Not  a  shot  was  fired  at  us  until 
the  skirmish  line  came  within  twenty  yards  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  concealed  by  the  brush,  when  they 
poured  a  heavy  volley  into  the  head  of  our  column,  then 


1863.  "OVER   THE   FENCE,    BOYS."  341 

only  a  few  paces  in  rear  of  our  skirmishers,  which  re 
sulted  in  the  wounding  of  eighteen  of  our  men,  Com 
pany  B,  on  the  right,  suffering  the  most.  The  command  : 
"Brigade  right  into  line,  double-quick,  march  !"  was  at 
once  given,  and  as  rapidly  executed.  A  fence  ran  along 
each  side  of  the  ravine  up  which  we  were  marching,  and 
across  it,  a  little  beyond  the  head  of  our  column,  was 
another  fence,  behind  which  the  enemy  was  posted.  As 
the  brigade  swung  into  line,  the  command,  "Charge 
bayonets  ! "  was  given,  and  as  we  neared  the  fence  behind 
which  the  enemy  lay,  Colonel  Morrison,  who  was  on  the 
right  of  the  line,  shouted  :  "  Over  the  fence,  boys,  and  at 
them  ! "  With  a  cheer  the  men  went  over  the  fence, 
driving  the  enemy  before,  them,  and  capturing  a  large 
number,  who  seemed  dazed  by  the  sudden  onset.  But 
jumping  fences  and  charging  on  the  enemy  had  disar 
ranged  our  line  ;  many  of  the  men,  under  the  excitement 
of  the  moment,  pursued  the  fleeing  enemy  until  recalled 
by  orders  to  halt.  The  line  of  battle  was  now  re-formed 
and  the  Forty-Fifth  Pennsylvania  again  thrown  forward 
on  the  skirmish  line,  and  thus  the  brigade  advanced 
through  a  belt  of  woods  to  a  clearing  beyond,  when  the 
enemy's  artillery,  from  their  fortified  position  in  the 
edge  of  the  woods,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  clearing, 
opened  on  our  lines.  Their  position  being  developed,  the 
brigade  was  halted  until  the  remainder  of  the  division 
came  within  supporting  distance. 

These  movements  consumed  the  little  remaining  portion 
of  daylight,  and  when  the  line  halted  it  was  growing 
dark.  The  enemy's  artillery  kept  up  a  steady  fire  for 
some  time,  being  directed  mostly  to  our  rear.  When  the 
troops  were  all  in  position  it  was  too  dark  for  any  further 
advance,  and  we  began  to  throw  up  temporary  breast 
works  for  protection  during  the  night,  after  completing 
which  we  were  ordered  to  lie  on  our  arms  and  be  ready 
to  renew  the  attack  early  the  following  morning.  A  sec- 


34:2  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  October, 

tion  of  Roemer's  battery  was  brought  up  during  the 
night,  and  everything  prepared  for  an  early  assault. 

At  daylight  of  the  llth,  the  Eighth  Michigan  on  the 
skirmish  line,  we  advanced  only  to  find  that  the  enemy 
had  abandoned  his  position  during  the  night.  Colonel 
Foster  had  not  reached  their  rear  in  time  to  intercept  their 
retreat ;  he  found  the  roads  obstructed,  and  when  at 
nightfall  the  Confederates  discovered  his  movement,  they 
decided  to  abandon  their  position.  We  were  ordered  for 
ward,  but  as  the  rebels  had  a  start  of  nearly  ten  hours, 
we  soon  realized  that  infantry  could  do  little  in  the  pur 
suit.  The  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry  of  the  Twenty- 
third  corps  took  up.  the  trail,  and  many  of  the  enemy 
were  killed  or  captured.  We  followed  in  support,  and 
marched  as  far  as  Eheatown,  some  nineteen  miles,  where 
we  halted  for  the  night.  On  the  12th,  the  cavalry 
reported  the  enemy  so  scattered  that  further  pursuit 
would  be  useless,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  the 
return  march  began. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  we  bivouacked  near  the  battle 
ground,  and  while  sitting  around  the  camp-fires  after 
dark,  we  learned  of  the  arrival  of  a  new  chaplain.  Every 
decade  seems  to  have  its  "Boy  Preacher,"  and  the  High 
landers  were  now  to  enjoy  the  ministrations  of  the  Boy 
Preacher  of  that  time.  The  Rev.  Crammond  Kennedy 
had  been  appointed  by  the  Governor  of  New  York  to 
succeed  Chaplain  Wyatt,  who  had  been  left  sick  with 
fever  at  Memphis,  on  our  journey  down  to  Vicksburg 
during  the  summer,  and  who  had  died  there.  When  the 
new  appointee  set  out  to  join  the  regiment,  he  expected 
to  reach  it  without  any  serious  difficulty.  Chaplain  Ken 
nedy  started  for  Chattanooga,  whither  it  was  supposed 
the  Ninth  corps  would  be  sent  to  reenforce  Rosecrans 
after  his  defeat  at  Chicamauga.  On  reaching  Stevenson, 
Alabama,  the  terminus  of  railroad  communication,  and 
having  no  horse,  the  Chaplain  expected  to  enjoy  the  priv- 


1863.  THE   NEW   CHAPLAIN.  343 

ilege  of  a  forty  mile  march  to  Chattanooga,  but  on 
reaching  Battle  Creek,  five  miles  011  the  road,  he  fortu 
nately  met,  in  an  officer  bound  for  the  same  place,  a 
"blither  Scot,'1  who  kindly  placed  a  spare  horse  at  his 
disposal,  and  the  journey  was  resumed  in  a  more  com 
fortable  manner. 

While  on  this  journey  he  had  his  first  experience  with 
the  enemy  in  the  form  of  a  bushwhacker,  who,  in  the 
dusk  of  the  evening  one  day,  popped  his  head  over  a 
fence  by  the  roadside  and  drew  a  bead  on  the  Chaplain's 
friend,  who  was  then  a  few  rods  in  advance.  An  instant 
alarm  from  the  Chaplain  caused  the  bushwhacker  to 
suddenly  disappear  before  firing  a  shot,  and  the  party 
reached  Chattanooga  without  further  molestation.  On 
arriving  there,  about  the  beginning  of  October,  he 
learned  that  the  regiment  was  "somewhere  in  the 
vicinity  of  Kiioxville."  His  subsequent  journey  on 
horseback  through  a  country  infested  by  bushwhack 
ers,  and  traversed  by  foraging  parties  of  the  enemy, 
showed  the  pluck  of  the  young  ' '  Soldier  of  the  Cross. " 
He  was  unattended  except  by  a  little  "contraband," 
whom  he  had  taken  into  his  service  at  Chattanooga,  and 
for  whom  an  occasional  mount  was  obtained  on  some  of 
the  abandoned  horses  that  were  roaming  at  large.  The 
last  of  these  reenlisted  veterans — "Uncle  Sam,"  the 
Chaplain  called  him  —  gave  out  in  sight  of  Knoxville, 
but  the  Chaplain  had  taken  such  good  care  of  his  own 
horse  k '  Billy, "  that  he  brought  him  in  as  fresh  as  a  lark. 
The  General  commanding  in  the  city  expressed  his  aston 
ishment  at  the  performance. 

Spending  a  day  or  two  at  Knoxville,  where  he  visited 
the  hospital  and  the  wounded  of  the  regiment  who  had 
been  sent  there  from  Blue  Springs,  the  Chaplain  deter 
mined  to  push  011  and  report  for  duty  at  regimental  head 
quarters.  On  being  brought  to  Colonel  Morrison  at  the 
entrance  of  the  tent,  in  the  half-light  of  the  camp-fire, 
he  announced  himself  as  the  new  Chaplain.  Morrison 


344  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  October, 

looked  at  him  a  moment,  as  if  in  doubt:  "The  new 
Chaplain,  are  ye  ?  Well,  you  're  a  young  one.  But  come 
in;  you're  welcome."  The  Colonel  called  a  meeting  of 
the  officers  on  the  spot,  and  when  the  Chaplain's  story 
was  told  he  was  at  once  "elected"  to  the  vacant  position, 
without  a  dissenting  voice. 

The  new  chaplain  was  one  of  a  multitude  of  college 
hoys,  many  of  them  studying  for  the  ministry,  who, 
throughout  the  loyal  States,  as  the  war  continued  and 
assumed  grander  proportions,  abandoned  their  books  to 
take  a  hand  in  saving  the  Union  and  destroying  slavery. 
For,  although  the  war  was  not  waged  for  emancipation 
by  the  government  of  the  United  States,  it  was  neverthe 
less  true  from  the  commencement  of  hostilities  that  the 
armed  enemies  of  the  Union  were  the  champions  of 
slavery,  and  that  the  maintenance  and  extension  of  the 
so-called  "divine  institution"  were  cardinal  principles 
with  the  "fire-eaters"  who  precipitated  the  rebellion. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  Chaplain  Kennedy,  who  was 
then  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  was  a  student  at 
Madison  University,  in  Hamilton,  New  York.  As  pub 
lic  meetings  were  held  in  the  village,  and  the  excite 
ment  deepened  and  spread  with  the  ' '  news  from  the 
front,"  one  student  after  another  enlisted,  and  the  prin 
cipal  of  the  preparatory  academy  marched  off  to  the  field 
as  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  volunteers. 

Some  verses  which  were  printed  in  1801  as  "The 
Nation's  Prayer,"  are  reprinted  below  to  give  an  inkling 
of  the  patriotic  and  religious  enthusiasm  which  was  one 
of  "the  signs  of  the  times,"  and  to  show  how  heartily 
our  new  chaplain  had  espoused  "  the  cause." 

THE  CHAPLAIN'S  HYMN. 

i. 

Before  Thy  throne  we  bow: 
O  God,  our  shield  be  Thou 

From  Treason's  rage  ! 


1863.  "DEFEND  THE  RIGHT."  345 

In  faith  we  look  to  Thee, 
Our  strength  in  Heaven  we  see, 
Defender  of  the  free, 
In  every  age  ! 

II. 

Our  follies  we  confess, 

O  Lord,  forgive  and  bless  ! 

Let  Mercy's  light 
Illumine  this  dark  hour, 
When  war-clouds  o'er  us  lower, 
And  Thine  eternal  power 

Defend  the  right  ! 

in. 

Protect  our  armies,  Lord, 
And  when  they  draw  the  sword, 

In  Freedom's  name, 
Strike  Thou  for  them  the  blow, 
O'erwhelm  the  vaunting  foe, 
And  bury  Treason  low 

In  deathless  shame  ! 

IV. 

Our  Pilgrim  Fathers  sleep, 
The  ocean,  broad  and  deep, 

Beside  their  graves : 
When  Thine  archangel  cries, 
Forbid  that  they  should  rise 
To  crowns  in  Paradise 

From  soil  of  slaves  ! 

v. 

Let  Liberty  arise, 
Her  glory  fill  the  skies, 

The  world  be  free  ! 
Let  all  adore  Thy  name, 
And  children  lisp  Thy  fame, 
And  Earth  and  Heaven  proclaim 

The  jubilee  ! 

By  noon  of  the  l±th,  we  were  on  the  cars  at  Rogers- 
ville  Junction,  and  Knoxville  was  reached  late  in  the 
evening.  General  Burnside  was  very  complimentary  to 
the  First  brigade.  He  said  it  had  "  accomplished  more 
in  half  an  hour  than  a  whole  division  had  done  in  a  day." 


346  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  Octoberr 

On  the  18tb  of  the  month  General  Grant  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  which 
was  made  to  include  the  departments  of  the  Ohio,  the 
Cumberland  and  the  Tennessee,  and  the  subsequent 
operations  in  our  department  (the  Ohio)  were  under  his 
general  direction.  On  the  10th  we  were  ordered  to  pre 
pare  for  the  march,  and  on  the  following  morning  at 
seven  o'clock  the  troops  were  in  motion.  We  expected 
to  march  to  Chattanooga.  Late  in  the  afternoon  we 
passed  through  the  little  hamlet  known  as  Campbell's 
Station,  distinguished  as  the  birthplace  of  Admiral  Far- 
ragut,  and  soon  to  be  further  noted  as  the  scene  of  a 
spirited  engagement  between  the  Union  and  Confederate 
forces.  We  bivouacked  a  short  distance  beyond  the  rail 
road  station,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  the  sound 
of  artillery  in  the  distance  showed  that  our  march  was 
being  contested,  or  that  our  advance  guard  was  pursuing 
a  retreating  enemy.  At  four  in  the  afternoon  we  hajted 
a  mile  or  so  beyond  Lenoir,  where  we  remained  till  three 
o'clock  the  next  afternoon,  and  then  moved  towards 
Loudon,  where  the  railroad  crosses  the  Holston  river.  At 
six  o'clock  we  crossed  on  a  pont&n,  the  railroad  bridge 
having  been  destroyed,  and  entered  the  town,  where  we 
spent  the  night. 

The  mounted  troops  of  the  command  had  been  engaged 
all  day  in  a  running  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  who  were 
driven  back  several  miles.  We  remained  at  Loudon  till 
the  28th,  the  time  being  occupied  in  strengthening  our 
position  by  the  erection  of  earthworks  and  rifle-pits. 
Portions  of  Bragg's  army  were  scattered  along  the  line 
of  the  railroad,  holding  the  country  between  us  and 
Chattanooga,  where  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was 
pratically  besieged,  and  we  supposed  our  movement  was 
intended  to  create  a  diversion  in  its  favor.  General  Grant 
was  also  at  Chattanooga,  and  was  taking  active  measures 
to  attack  the  enemy  and  retrieve  the  losses  sustained  by 
the  defeat  at  Chicamauga. 


1863.  LOUDON   WAS   EVACUATED.  347 

In  order  to  supply  our  animals  with  grain  and  forage, 
the  quartermasters  were  obliged  to  scour  the  country  in 
all  directions,  and  on  the  27th  a  party  of  us  were  sent  out 
for  that  purpose.  After  making  several  calls  without 
accomplishing  our  errand,  we  came  to  a  house  occupied 
by  a  Scotch  family  named  Alexander.  Two  women  and 
an  old  man  were  the  only  persons  at  home,  the  husbands 
of  the  women  being  in  the  Confederate  service.  They 
had  nothing  in  the  way  of  corn  or  fodder  for  us  "  Yan 
kees,"  but,  as  we  had  been  informed  to  the  contrary,  we 
thought  it  our  duty  to  search  the  premises.  In  the  barn, 
under  a  pile  of  corn-stalks,  we  found  over  a  hundred 
bushels  of  corn  in  the  cob.  Taking  about  half  of  this, 
and  a  couple  of  wagon  loads  of  stalks,  we  returned  to 
camp.  According  to  instructions,  a  receipt  was  offered 
which  had  been  signed  in  blank  by  the  proper  officer, 
and  according  to  which  the  holders  were  entitled — at  the 
close  of  the  war,  or  before,  perhaps — to  the  market  value 
of  the  articles  taken,  provided  they  could  prove  that 
they  had  been  good  Union  people  during  the  war,  and 
had  never  rendered  "aid  or  encouragement"  to  the  ene 
mies  of  the  Union.  It  is  remembered  yet,  the  looks  of 
scorn  and  contempt  with  which  the  elder  of  the  two 
ladies  received  the  paper,  after  reading  which  she  tore  it 
in  pieces  and  stamped  upon  the  fragments  in  the  most 
approved  and  dramatic  manner.  She  looked,  too,  as 
though  she  would  have  enjoyed  treating  us  in  the  same 
way. 

When  we  returned  to  camp  in  the  evening,  we  found 
that  half  rations  had  been  issued  to  the  regiment,  but  as 
our  haversacks  contained  two  or  three  days'  supply  of 
biscuit,  and  in  addition  we  had  a  number  of  chickens 
and  young  pigs  "  purchased  "  during  our  expedition,  short 
commons  did  not  trouble  the  foraging  party. 

On  the  28th  London  was  evacuated  by  our  troops.  We 
tore  up  several  miles  of  railroad  track,  throwing  many 


348  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  October, 

of  the  rails  into  the  river,  heating  and  bending  others, 
while  several  locomotives  were  either  run  off  the  abut 
ment  of  the  bridge  into  the  river,  or  otherwise  rendered 
unfit  for  use.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  came  within  our 
lines  and  accompanied  the  troops  to  Lenoir,  to  which 
place  the  corps  had  been  ordered.  We  did  not  know  at 
this  timea  nor  until  the  evacuation  of  Lenoir,  the  causes 
which  led  to  what  seemed  to  us  such  a  sudden  and 
mysterious  movement. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  on  the  Tth  of  July,  three 
days  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  Captain  Armour  with 
his  company  and  other  men,  to  the  number  of  sixty,  were 
detailed  as  guard  at  corps  headquarters.  Additions  to 
the  guard  had  been  made  from  time  to  time,  owing  to 
which,  and  to  other  causes  incident  to  war,  the  regiment 
was  at  this  time  so  reduced  in  numbers  that  Colonel  Mor 
rison,  who  was  in  command  of  the  brigade,  recommended 
that  what  remained  of  it  might  also  be  assigned  to  duty 
as  headquarters  guard.  His  recommendation  was 
approved,  and  for  the  next  four  weeks  we  were  relieved 
from  the  usual  outpost  and  picket  duty. 

On  our  arrival  at  Lenoir,  we  were  ordered  to  fix  up  our 
quarters  for  a  permanent  camp,  and  we  began  at  once 
the  erection  of  log  huts,  each  squad  trying  to  outdo  its 
neighbor  in  the  workmanlike  construction  of  substantial 
winter  quarters.  The  building  of  fire-places  and  chim 
neys,  out  of  the  materials  available  there,  required  the 
greatest  amount  of  skill,  and  upon  these  much  ingenuity 
was  displayed.  As  we  had  many  practical  masons  and 
carpenters  in  our  ranks  our  quarters  soon  presented  a 
very  neat  and  tasteful  appearance.  An  incident  occurred 
in  one  of  the  huts,  on  the  occasion  of  its  first  occupancy, 
that  will  serve  to  show  with  what  care  the  men  guarded 
against  a  great  camp  evil  :  It  was  discovered  that  a 
change  of  underclothing,  laid  off  by  one  of  the  occu 
pants,  was  foul  with  lice.  The  one  who  made  the  dis- 


1863.  "TOO   FUR  FROM  HOME."  349 

covery  promptly  placed  the  bundle  on  the  'fire.  It  was 
considered  almost  a  capital  offence  for  a  member  of  the 
regiment  to  allow  himself  to  remain  filthy,  after  once 
discovering  that  he  "had  'em,"  and  the  only  reason  that 
the  owner  of  this  particular  lot  was  not  cremated  with 
the  other  live  stock,  was  the  fact  of  his  being  absent  on 
guard  duty  when  the  discovery  was  made. 

A  handsome  stand  of  colors  that  had  been  received 
from  New  York,  and  which,  owing  to  our  migratory 
habits,  had  remained  in  the  packing  case,  was  presented 
to  the  regiment  by  Colonel  Morrison  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  29th. 

While  quartered  at  Lenoir,  recruiting  parties  were  sent 
to  different  points  east  of  us,  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting 
the  East  Tennesseeans  in  order  to  fill  the  ranks  of 
depleted  regiments.  Lieutenant  Diiigwall  was  sent  with 
a  squad  to  Morristown  for  that  purpose,  but  the  natives 
did  not  take  kindly  to  the  "foreign "  regiments.  "  Yer 
gwine  too  fur  from  home  for  we  'uiis  to  jine  yer  rigi- 
ment,"  was  almost  the  invariable  reply,  when  a  man  was 
asked  to  enlist  in  the  Seventy-Ninth.  The  eastern  regi 
ments  were  not  as  popular  with  the  people  as  those  raised 
in  the  West,  nearer  home.  Not  one  could  be  induced  to 
join  our  ranks,  and  the  squad  returned  empty-handed. 
That  the  natives  did  not  lack  patriotism,  however,  was 
proved  by  the  fact  that  several  regiments  were  organized 
from  this  section  of  country  ;  but  yet  they  seemed  to 
prefer  acting  as  a  sort  of  home-guard — not  a  very  high 
type  of  patriotism,  perhaps. 

Just  before  Lieutenant  Diiigwall  left  Morristown,  quite 
an  alarm  was  created  by  the  appearance  of  a  number  of 
stragglers,  who  reported  themselves  as  being  all  that  was 
left  of  a  brigade  which  had  been  on  duty  at  Eutledge, 
where  they  were  attacked  by  a  superior  force  of  the 
enemy.  They  presented  a  very  demoralized  appearance, 
but  were  at  once  pressed  into  the  ranks,  and  during  the 


350  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

night  a  rifle-pit  was  dug  and  preparations  made  to  receive 
the  enemy,  whom  the  frightened  fellows  announced  as 
right  on  their  heels.  The  night  passed,  however,  without 
any  alarm,  and  the  next  morning  our  men  set  out  on  the 
return  to  Lenoir. 

By  the  8th  of  November,  corn  and  fodder  had  become 
so  scarce  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  extend  our  for 
aging  limits,  and  on  this  date  a  detachment  of  about  a 
hundred  men  from  the  regiment,  under  command  of 
Captain  Armour,  escorting  a  train  of  about  twenty -five 
wagons,  was  sent  out  into  Eoane  county,  where  we 
learned  that  those  articles  were  still  plenty.  It  was  just 
such  an  expedition  as  we  were  aching  for,  our  duties  at 
headquarters  having  shut  us  off  from  the  opportuni 
ties  that  the  other  regiments  enjoyed,  of  looking  out 
for  themselves  while  on  picket  duty  in  the  country. 
There  was  just  danger  enough  from  the  roving  bands  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry  to  give  zest  to  the  expedition,  and 
the  prospect  of  returning  well  laden  with  the  good 
things  we  would  be  sure  to  pick  up  on  the  way,  was 
pleasing  to  those  who  had  been  on  short  rations  for  so 
long  a  time.  Was  it  Wellington  who  said  that  ' '  An 
army  travels  on  its  belly  "  ?  Neither  marching  nor  fight 
ing  is  done  to  the  best  advantage  on  empty  stomachs. 

About  noon  our  expedition  reached  a  ford  on  the 
Clinch  river,  but  the  water  was  too  high  for  crossing 
and  we  were  obliged  to  go  two  miles  further  down  to  a 
rope  ferry,  where  we  found  a  dilapidated  flat-boat,  and 
began  crossing  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  We 
were  obliged  to  detach  the  mules  from  the  wagons,  as 
the  boat  was  neither  large  enough  nor  strong  enough  for 
both  wagon  and  animals  at  the  same  time  ;  the  river 
was  not  very  wide  but  the  current  was  swift,  and  it  took 
us  till  five  o'clock  to  get  our  train  over.  The  rope  was 
rotten  and  broke  twice  during  the  operation,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  use  poles  in  order  to  ease  the  strain  when 


4863.  A   RED-HEADED   ONE.  351 

the  middle  of  the  current  was  reached.  Three  miles  be 
yond  the  river,  we  bivouacked  for  the  night,  and  when 
we  halted  it  was  found  that  the  boys  had  picked  up 
enough  poultry  and  "sich  "  on  the  road  to  give  us  all  a 
royal  feast.  We  posted  a  strong  guard  about  our  quar 
ters  and  the  night  passed  quietly.  It  was  cold,  and  ice 
formed  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  but  a  good  chicken 
breakfast,  washed  down  with  plenty  of  hot  coffee,  pre 
pared  us  for  duty,  and  at  eight  o'clock  we  resumed  our 
march,  down  the  valley  towards  Kingston,  until  we 
reached  the  extensive  plantation  or  farm  of  a  Mr.  Gal 
lagher,  who  was  reported  to  be  a  red-hot  secessionist ; 
we  found  him  to  be  a  red-headed  one,  at  any  rate.  His 
neighbors  had  been  plundered  by  the  rebels  because  of 
their  well-known  Union  sympathies,  while  he  had  thus 
far  escaped. 

On  reaching  his  place  we  found  quite  a  village  of  barns 
and  sheds,  the  buildings  well  stocked  with  corn,  oats  and 
hay.  The  proper  officers  interviewed  Mr.  G.,  and  in 
formed  him  of  our  errand,  who,  when  he  realized  the 
situation,  acknowledged  that  he  could  n't  help  himself, 
and  that  he  supposed  we  would  take  what  we  wanted 
anyway.  After  filling  half  of  the  wagons  with  corn  and 
oats  and  the  remainder  with  corn-fodder,  hay  and  straw, 
and  eating  our  dinner,  we  were  ready  to  return.  During 
the  time  we  were  filling  the  wagons,  the  proprietor 
watched  our  proceedings  with  a  good  deal  of  interest, 
occasionally  giving  vent  to  his  injured  feelings  by  re 
marks  more  forcible  than  patriotic  or  polite.  We  tried 
to  purchase  hoe-cake,  biscuit  and  poultry  at  the  house, 
but  were  met  by  such  churlish  refusals  from  the  in 
mates  that  we  determined  to  help  ourselves  ;  we  did  not 
enter  the  house,  the  people  were  not  molested,  and  that 
we  went  off  without  leaving  twenty-five  or  thirty  dol 
lars  in  greenbacks,  in  exchange  for  the  poultry  and 
young  pigs  we  carried  with  us,  was  entirely  their  own 
fault. 


352  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

Although  our  wagons  held  a  good  deal  of  grain  and 
fodder,  we  left  as  much  behind  as  would  have  filled 
double  the  number.  The  ferry  was  reached  at  three 
p.  M.  ;  the  day  had  grown  colder,  and  when  we  began 
getting  the  teams  over  it  looked  as  though  we  would 
have  an  all-night's  job  on  our  hands.  Many  willing 
hands  made  quick  work,  however,  and  by  eight  o'clock 
the  teams  were  safely  across.  Huge  bon-fires  had  been 
kindled  on  either  bank,  which  shed  a  lurid  light  on  our 
operations,  and  as  we  pulled  and  poled  the  old  boat  back 
and  forth,  the  scene  was  quite  romantic. 

It  was  decided  to  wait  till  morning  before  returning  to 
Lenoir,  and  those  who  had  blankets  rolled  themselves  up 
and  lay  down  by  the  fires  to  sleep.  Three  or  four  of  us, 
who  were  not  so  supplied,  started  in  search  of  shelter. 
The  night  was  extremely  dark,  and  objects  a  rod  distant 
could  not  be  distinguished.  Taking  two  or  three  blazing 
brands  from  the  fire  we  soon  discovered  a  little  cabin  by 
the  roadside,  apparently  deserted,  which  we  entered,  and 
soon  had  a  cheerful  fire  blazing  on  the  hearth.  While 
one  of  the  party  looked  through  the  house  to  be  sure 
there  were  no  other  inmates,  the  rest  of  us  prepared 
coffee.  We  had  forgotten  to  bring  anything  from  the 
wagons  but  our  haversacks,  and  these  contained  only  a 
few  crackers  and  some  corn  dodgers.  While  discussing 
the  advisability  of  going  back  for  a  chicken  or  two,  we 
heard  our  companion  calling:  "Say,  fellers,  come  here, 
quick  ! "  and  on  responding  found  him  in  an  adjoining 
room  or  shed,  standing  with  his  torch  raised,  and  point 
ing  to  some  objects  above  his  head.  There,  on  the  top 
of  an  old  door  that  hung  by  only  one  hinge,  roosted  three 
or  four  hens  !  It  seemed  providential.  One  of  our  num 
ber  was  an  expert  in  handling  sleeping  fowls,  and  in  a 
minute  or  two  the  whole  brood  was  lying  on  the  floor 
without  an  alarm  being  raised.  We  ate  so  heartily  of 
broiled  chicken  half  an  hour  afterwards  that  when  we 


1863.  WE   RETIRED   THAT   NIGHT.  353 

stretched  ourselves  on  the  floor,  with  our  feet  to  the  fire, 
we  almost  felt  the  pin-feathers  sticking  through  our 
skins  !  But  it  was  a  cold  night  after  all,  and  we  were 
awake  before  daylight,  and  a  good  fire  was  soon  ready 
by  which  to  prepare  our  breakfast. 

When  it  was  light  enough  to  see,  one  of  our  number 
started  in  search  of  some  milk.  The  house  was  only  a 
few  rods  distant,  and  when  he  returned  he  said  that 
while  waiting  for  the  milk  he  overheard  one  of  the 
inmates  "  wonder  the  hens  haint  been  'round  yit."  He 
did  n't  wonder  a  bit,  and  innocently  asked  if  he  could 
buy  two  or  three  and  a  couple  of  dozen  eggs  ;  he  got  the 
eggs,  and  was  told  to  call  again  in  an  hour  or  so  and 
they  would  have  the  chickens  ready.  We  had  a  rousing 
good  breakfast,  soon  after  which  the  train  was  under 
way,  and  Lenoir  was  reached  at  noon. 

On  the  llth  the  regiment  was  called  upon  to  throw  a 
ponton  bridge  across  the  river,  and  although  the  day 
was  very  cold  and  the  water  almost  at  the  freezing  point, 
the  work  was  accomplished  so  expeditiously  as  to  call 
forth  the  praises  of  General  Potter,  the  corps  com 
mander.  It  now  appeared  to  us  that  our  quarters  at 
Lenoir  would  be  permanent,  and  on  the  12th  a  number 
of  us  traveled  a  mile  or  more  for  the  purpose  of  procur 
ing  boards  with  which  to  floor  our  huts  and  to  construct 
sleeping  bunks.  By  bed-time  of  the  13th  we  had  every 
thing  in  good  order,  and  congratulated  ourselves  on 
being  so  well  fixed.  We  retired  that  night  in  a  very 
comfortable  frame  of  mind,  but  our  dreams  wrere  sadly 
interrupted.  Long  before  daylight  of  the  14th  we  were 
routed  out  with  the  unwelcome  and  unexpected  intelli 
gence  that  the  enemy  was  advancing  in  force  ;  our  pick 
ets  at  London  had  been  driven  in,  and  we  were  ordered 
to  "pack  up  and  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's 
notice." 

A  thunderbolt  from  a  clear  sky  would  not  have  astoii- 

23 


354  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

ished  us  half  so  much  as  did  the  order  to  move.     We 
were    disgusted.      Why  couldn't    the    "rebs"  behave 
themselves  and   let  us  enjoy  our  snug  quarters  for  a 
while  ?    In  a  few  minutes  it  was  announced  that  we 
were  to  evacuate  Lenoir  and  fall  back  to  Kiioxville  ! 
Shortly  after  daylight  all  was  confusion  ;  a  party  was 
sent  to  destroy  the  machinery  contained  in  the  cotton 
mill  that  had  been  set  in  operation  after  our  occupancy 
of  the  place,  and  in  which  a  large  number  of  the  inhab 
itants  had  found  remunerative  employment ;  we  were 
also  ordered  to  burn  everything  we  could  not  carry  with 
us,  and  as  the  batteries  were  short  of  horses,  teams  were 
taken  from  some  of  the  baggage  wagons  and  the  wagons 
with  much  of  their  contents  destroyed.    No  little  amuse 
ment  was  created  by  the  burning  of  a  number  of  trunks 
which  the  officers  had  purchased  at  Kiioxville,  for  the 
better  accommodation  of  their  effects  during  our  occu 
pancy  of  winter  quarters.     Many  of  the  log  shanties 
were  set  on  fire,  and  in  a  short  time  it  looked  as  though 
a  general  conflagration  was  about  to  take  place. .  Bodies 
of  troops,  looking  somewhat  demoralized,  were  hurrying 
from  the  front,  and  their  report  of  "the  enemy  right  on 
our  heels  "  did  not  tend  to  allay  the  excitement.    At  nine 
o'clock  rain  began  to  fall,  and  our  cup  of  misery  seemed 
full.     There  appeared  to  be  as  much  alarm  among  gen 
eral  and  staff  officers  as  among  the  men,  and  the  wish 
was  often  expressed  "that  General  Burnside  were  here." 
At  eleven  o'clock,   when  the  excitement  was  at  its 
height,    an  engine  rattled  into  the   station ;    Burnside 
stepped  from  the  cab  and  was  greeted  with  hearty  cheers. 
In  a  few  minutes  the  scene  was  changed  ;  the  retreating 
troops  were  ordered  back  to  the  front,  and  preparations 
made  to  at  least  fall  back  in  an  orderly  and  dignified 
manner.     The  rain  ceased  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  dark 
we  erected  temporary  shelters  and  lay  down,  trusting 
that  the  morrow  would  bring  about  a  more  hopeful  con 
dition  of  affairs. 


1863.  ATTACKED   OUR   OUTPOSTS.  355 

A  short  account  of  the  general  situation  at  this  time 
will  serve  to  explain  more  intelligently  our  subsequent 
movements  :  After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  Con 
federate  General  Longstreet  had  been  sent  with  a  strong 
force  to  reenforce  General  Bragg,  aiid  had  arrived  in  time 
to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Chicamauga.  Burnside's 
occupation  of  East  Tennessee  was  a  constant  menace  to 
Bragg's  right  flank  and  rear,  and  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  had  been  reen- 
forced  by  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  corps  under  General 
Hooker,  and  also  that  a  strong  force  under  Sherman  was 
moving  from  Vicksburg  for  the  same  purpose,  Bragg 
thought  himself  able  to  defeat  the  Union  army  without 
the  aid  of  Longstreet.  Flushed  with  success,  the  Con 
federate  commander  fell  into  the  natural  error  of  under 
valuing  his  enemy's  prowess.  So  Longstreet  was  de 
tached  and  ordered  to  drive  Burnside  out,  while  other 
movements  of  the  enemy  from  Virginia  were  made  in 
order  to  create  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  real  movement 
from  the  southwest.  The  movements  from  Virginia 
were  met  by  General  Willcox,  whose  headquarters  were 
at  Morristown.  As  soon  as  General  Grant  learned  of 
Longstreet's  departure  from  Bragg's  army  he  telegraphed 
Burnside,  and  informed  him  that  he  would  endeavor  to 
create  a  diversion  in  his  favor  by  an  attack  on  Bragg.  On 
the  12th  Burnside  telegraphed  Grant  that  he  would  try 
and  hold  Longstreet  in  his  front  until  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  was  ready  to  strike. 

On  Friday,  the  13th,  a  portion  of  Longstreet's  force 
had  attacked  our  outposts  at  London,  and  a  brisk  en 
gagement  was  fought,  resulting  in  some  loss  on  both 
sides.  The  enemy  was  driven  back,  and  as  our  skirmish 
ers  advanced  General  Potter  accompanied  the  line  for 
the  purpose  of  more  clearly  observing  the  situation. 
Chaplain  Kennedy  had  already  exhibited  considerable 
pluck  of  the  kind  not  usually  displayed  by,  or  expected 


350  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

from,  non-combatants,  and  being  at  the  front  at  this  time 
he  accompanied  General  Potter  with  the  advance,  but 
in  attempting  to  return  to  his  regiment  alone,  he  lost  his 
way.  He  had  ridden  nearly  down  to  Hough's  Ferry, 
which  by  an  air  line  is  little  more  than  a  mile  from  Lou- 
don,  but  by  the  windings  of  the  river  is  more  than  six 
miles.  It  was  dusk  ;  the  chaplain  knew  he  had  lost  his 
bearings,  and  while  he  was  watering  his  horse  at  a 
brook,  a  woman  appeared  on  the  bank  above  him,  who, 
with  warning  voice  and  gestures,  implored  him  to  go 
back,  adding  that  there  were  thousands  of  rebels  down 
by  the  ferry,  and  that  a  party  of  four  had  just  stopped 
at  her  house  to  inquire  for  a  Yankee  officer  that  had 
been  observed  prowling  about.  Kennedy  at  once  turned 
back,  but,  on  reaching  the  road,  observed  in  a  field  to 
the  left,  and  posted  behind  a  rail  fence,  the  four  rebels 
who  had  been  looking  for  him.  The  chaplain  was  in  a 
tight  spot ;  he  could  not  retreat,  for  the  bulk  of  the  rebel 
force  was  at  the  river  ;  his  only  chance  was  to  run  the 
gauntlet  of  the  fire  of  four  rifles.  As  he  drew  near  at 
a  steady  gallop  he  was  ordered  to  halt,  but,  throwing 
himself  along  his  horse's  back  and  giving  him  the  rein, 
he  dashed  by,  the  bullets  from  the  rifles  flying  harm 
lessly  over  his  head.  When  he  reached  the  brow  of  the 
hill,  a  little  ways  beyond,  he  turned  and  waved  his  cap, 
in  token  of  farewell,  and  pushed  on  until  our  lines  were 
reached. 

When  he  reported  what  he  had  seen  and  heard,  the 
officer  in  charge  of  our  outposts,  realizing  that  the 
enemy's  crossing  at  Hough's  Ferry  would  turn  our  right 
flank,  and  that  the  attack  at  London  was  merely  a  feint 
to  cover  that  movement,  conducted  the  chaplain  to 
General  Burnside,  who  was  then  at  the  front.  As  soon 
as  the  chaplain  made  his  report,  orders  were  issued 
directing  the  immediate  evacuation  of  London,  and  thus 
our  force  at  that  point  was  saved  from  almost  certain 


1863.  OUR   FATE   WAS   SEALED.  357 

destruction.  Burnside  at  once  telegraphed  Grant  that 
as  his  flank  was  turned  and  the  position  at  London  ren 
dered  untenable,  he  would  concentrate  his  forces  and 
fall  back  on  Knoxville,  and  thus  draw  Longstreet  as  far 
from  Bragg  as  possible.  With  his  small  force,  Burnside 
could  hope  to  do  little  more  in  the  open  field  than  to  hold 
Longstreet  in  check  long  enough  to  give  us  a  chance  to 
put  Knoxville  in  a  condition  for  defence,  and  his  plans 
were  made  accordingly. 

On  Saturday  morning,  the  14th,  the  advance  of  Long- 
street's  force  crossed  the  river  at  Hough's  Ferry,  being 
opposed  by  a  part  of  General  White's  division  of  the 
Twenty- Third  corps,  who  gallantly  resisted  the  enemy 
and  during  the  afternoon  drove  them  back  nearly  to  the 
crossing  place.  Darkness  alone  ended  the  engagement, 
and  the  next  morning  our  men  were  ready  to  renew  the 
fight,  but  Burnside  ordered  them  to  fall  back.  Our  First 
division  was  on  the  field  at  the  time,  and  Colonel  Morri 
son's  brigade  brought  up  the  rear,  keeping  the  enemy  at 
a  respectful  distance  until  line  was  formed  a  little  south 
west  of  Lenoir. 

Sunday  morning  opened  clear  and  cold.  Our  duties  at 
corps  headquarters  included  the  guarding  of  a  number  of 
prisoners  captured  the  day  before,  and  from  them  we 
learned  that  Longstreet,  to  whose  command  they 
belonged,  was  now  in  our  front  and  meant  "to  clean 
us  out  of  East  Tennessee,"  and  that  as  the  Union  army 
at  Chattanooga  had  been  so  thoroughly  whipped  in  the 
battle  of  Chicamauga,  no  help  could  come  to  us  from  that 
quarter  and  our  fate  was  sealed.  As  we  had  met  Long- 
street's  veterans  on  other  fields,  we  realized  that  ' '  foe- 
men  worthy  of  our  steel "  were  before  us  ;  yet,  such  was 
our  confidence  in  General  Burnside  and  the  troops  under 
his  command  that  we  were  not  at  all  disconcerted.  We 
lay  down  to  rest  late  at  night,  but  were  warned  to  be 
ready  to  jump  at  a  moment's  notice.  About  two  o'clock 


358  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

on  Monday  morning  we  were  awakened  by  a  heavy 
volley  of  musketry,  many  of  the  bullets  whistling 
through  the  tree  tops.  We  arose  hastily,  struck  tents, 
formed  line,  and,  stacking  arms,  awaited  further  devel 
opments.  At  five  o'clock,  accompanied  by  a  section  of 
Edwards'  battery,  we  began  our  march  towards  Knox- 
ville.  It  was  dark  and  disagreeable  ;  the  mud  was  deep 
and  the  road  full  of  wagons  and  artillery,  which  we  were 
frequently  obliged  to  help  out  of  the  mud  holes.  At 
daylight  we  were  only  two  miles  from  our  starting  point. 
The  enemy  followed  closely  as  soon  as  daylight  appeared, 
and  firing  on  our  left  indicated  that  they  were  on  the 
Kingston  road,  endeavoring  to  reach  the  cross-roads  at 
Campbell's  Station  before  us,  and  cut  off  our  retreat  to 
Knoxville ;  but  as  we  had  the  inside  track  little  appre 
hension  was  felt  of  their  being  able  to  accomplish  their 
design. 

Our  Second  division,  under  Colonel  Hartraiift,  reached 
Campbell's  Station  first,  and  was  at  once  deployed  across 
the  Kingston  road,  over  which  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy  were  advancing,  while  Colonel  Humphreys  with 
his  brigade  brought  up  the  rear  on  the  London  road,  over 
which  we  were  marching.  As  we  reached  the  cross 
roads  the  artillery  moved  rapidly  to  the  high  ground  east 
of  the  station,  and  the  Highlanders  were  placed  in  sup 
port  of  Benjamin's  battery.  From  our  point  of  observa 
tion  the  whole  field  could  be  observed,  and  General 
Burnside  established  his  headquarters  just  in  rear  of  the 
battery. 

The  movements  of  Morrison's  brigade  are  well  described 
by  Captain  Burrage  in  the  ' k  History  of  the  Thirty-Sixth 
Massachusetts."  He  says  :  "On  reaching  the  junction 
of  the  roads  Morrison  ordered  us  into  an  open  field  on 
our  left,  and  the  Thirty-Sixth  was  directed  to  take  posi 
tion  in  rear  of  a  rail  fence,  with  our  right  resting  on  the 
Kingston  road.  The  Eighth  Michigan  was  on  our  left. 


1863.  POURED   A   VOLLEY.  350 

The  Forty-Fifth  Pennsylvania  was  deployed  as  skirmish 
ers.  Meanwhile  the  rest  of  the  troops  on  the  road  from 
Lenoir,  and  those  which  had  preceded  us,  were  moving 
to  a  position  selected  by  General  Burnside,  a  little  way 
beyond  the  village  of  Campbell's  Station ;  and  we  were 
left  to  cover  the  movement. 

"Unfurling  our  colors  we  awaited  the  advance  of  the 
enemy.  There  was  little  delay.  In  our  front  there  was 
an  occasional  shot  and  also  on  our  right,  but  it  was  soon 
evident  that  the  enemy  were  moving  to  our  left,  in  order 
to  gain  the  cover  of  the  woods  and  obtain  a  more  favora 
ble  position  for  attack.  Moving  off  by  the  left  flank, 
therefore,  we  took  a  second  position  in  an  adjoining  field. 
Finding  now  the  enemy  moving  rapidly  through  the 
woods  and  threatening  our  rear  with  increasing  num 
bers — Hood's  division  (of  the  enemy)  that  had  followed 
us  from  Lenoir  being  now  up — we  executed  a  left  half- 
wheel,  and,  advancing  on  the  double-quick  to  the  rail 
fence  which  ran  along  the  edge  of  the  woods,  we  opened  a 
heavy  fire.  From  this  new  position  the  enemy 

at  once  endeavored  to  force  us.  His  fire  was  well  directed, 
but  the  fence  afforded  us  a  slight  protection.  *  *  *• 
For  a  while  the  enemy  was  held  in  check,  but  at  length 
the  skirmishers  of  the  Forty-Fifth  Pennsylvania,  who 
were  watching  our  right,  descried  a  body  of  rebel 
infantry  pushing  towards  our  rear  from  the  Kingston 
road.  Colonel  Morrison  at  once  ordered  the  Thirty-Sixth 
Massachusetts  and  Eighth  Michigan  to  face  about  and 
establish  a  new  line  in  rear  of  the  rail  fence  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  the  field.  We  advanced  on  the  double-quick, 
and,  reaching  the  fence,  our  men,  with  a  shout,  poured 
a  volley  into  the  rebel  line  of  battle,  which  not  only 
checked  its  advance  but  drove  it  back  in  confusion. 
Meanwhile  the  enemy  in  our  rear  moved  up  to  the  edge 
of  the  woods  which  we  had  just  left,  and  now  opened  a 
brisk  fire.  We  at  once  crossed  the  fence,  in  order  to  place 


3<)0  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

it  between  us  and  his  fire,  and  were  about  to  devote  our 
attention  again  to  him  when  orders  came  for  us  to  with 
draw,  it  being  no  longer  necessary  for  us  to  hold  the 
junction  of  the  roads,  as  all  our  troops  and  wagons  had 
now  passed." 

In  order  to  show  the  importance  of  the  work  performed 
by  our  brigade  in  saving  the  Third  brigade  of  our  division, 
which  had  just  had  a  severe  tussle  with  the  enemy  fur 
ther  on  the  left,  the  following  extract  from  "Kecollec- 
tioiis  of  the  East  Tennessee  Campaign,"  written  by  Will. 
H.  Brearley,  of  the  Seventeenth  Michigan,  is  given  : 
* l  Heavy  volleys  of  musketry  were  heard  in  the  direction 
of  the  Kingston  road,  and  it  was  evident  that  Morrison's 
brigade  were  engaging  the  troops  Longstreet  had  sent  to 
intercept  us.  However  sanguine  the  enemy  were  of 
accomplishing  that  plan  when  it  was  designed,  it  was 
soon  proven  to  be  a  difficult  one  to  demonstrate,  for  the 
old  First  brigade  '  did  n't  drive  worth  a  cent, '  and  proved 
to  be  a  sufficient  barrier  till  we  had  passed  the  junction." 

Most  of  these  movements  were  witnessed  by  us  as  we 
lay  behind  Benjamin's  guns,  and  our  hearts  thrilled  with 
delight  at  the  gallant  action  of  our  brave  comrades.  Our 
position  was  a  strong  one,  and  could  be  maintained  at 
least  until  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  came  up,  and  as 
every  minute's  delay  was  to  our  advantage,  the  troops, 
as  they  came  up  the  hill,  were  placed  so  as  to  support 
the  batteries,  now  all  in  favorable  positions  to  repel  the 
attack.  Our  division  occupied  the  right  of  the  line  of 
battle,  General  Julius  White's  division  of  the  Twenty- 
Third  corps  the  center,  and  Hartranft's  division  of  our 
corps  the  left,  a  small  cavalry  force  guarding  the  flanks. 

About  noon  the  enemy  advanced  in  a  double  column 
against  our  right  center,  but  were  driven  back  by  our 
batteries  which  opened  with  shell  and  case-shot.  So 
destructive  was  the  fire  of  our  guns  that  the  enemy  did 
not  come  within  range  of  our  rifles.  Our  extreme  right 


THUS  ENDED  THE  BATTLE.  361 

was  then  attacked,  but  Christ's  brigade  and  Buckley's 
battery  objected  so  strenuously  that  the  attempt  to  turn 
that  flank  failed.  But  a  more  determined  effort  was 
being  made  on  our  left  which  necessitated  our  falling 
back  to  a  point  which  had  been  selected,  a  mile  or  so  in  our 
rear.  During  this  movement  the  enemy  poured  a  heavy 
fire  from  their  artillery  upon  our  lines,  which  did  little 
damage,  however,  and  at  four  o'clock  the  new  line  was 
formed  ;  but  before  the  enemy  could  attain  a  favorable 
position  from  which  to  renew  the  attack,  darkness  put 
an  end  to  the  engagement.  Thus  ended  the  battle  of 
Campbell's  Station,  of  the  result  of  which  we  all  felt 
proud,  inasmuch  as  we  fought  against  a  greatly  superior 
force,  on  a  retreat,  and  our  lines  had  not  been  broken. 

Longstreet  recognized  the  importance  of  a  victory  at 
this  point,  for,  in  his  report  he  says:  "If  GeneralJen- 
kins  could  have  made  his  attack  or  if  he  could 

have  made  it  after  the  enemy  had  taken  his  second 
position,  we  must  have  destroyed  his  force,  recovered 
East  Tennessee,  and  in  all  probability  captured  the 
greater  portion  of  the  enemy's  forces."  General  If 
.again. 


362  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November,- 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN  [CONTINUED].     SIEGE  OF  KNOX- 
VILLE  TO  NOVEMBER  28TH. 

ARRIVAL  at  Knoxville. — Letters  from  Home. — Ordered  to  the  Front. — Selected 
to  Garrison  Fort  Sanders. — Engagements  on  the  Armstrong  Hill. — "  Keep 
Cool,  Fire  Low,  and  Be  Sure  and  Hit  Something  Every  Time." — Death  of 
General  Sanders. — The  Siege  Established. — Knoxville,  its  Location  and 
Defences. — Diary  of  the  Siege. — Experience  on  the  Picket  Line. — Cotton 
Bales  for  Protection. — The  Brick  House. — A  Midnight  Sortie  by  the  Seven 
teenth  Michigan.— Short  Rations. — "Do  You  Want  a  Bite?" — Bullets  Flying 
Over  the  Fort. — Railroad  Shops  Burned. — A  Grand  Display. — Colonel 
Hawkes'  Sortie. — A  Peculiar  Case. — "Shooting  a  Man  to  Save  His  Life." — 
.  "My  New  Boots!"— Confident  of  Our  Ability  to  Hold  the  Fort. — Drawing 
the  Enemy's  Fire. — "  We  're  Happy  Because  It  Can't  Last." — Enemy's  Lines 
Closing  In  Upon  Us. — Night  of  the  28th. — Lieutenant  Benjamin's  Hand 
Grenades. — Ready  to  Receive  the  Enemy. 

JUST  after  dark  we  resumed  our  march  to  Knoxville, 
General  White's  division  of  the  Twenty-Third  corps 
bringing  up  the  rear,  and  at  midnight  the  Highlanders 
bivouacked  within  three  miles  of  the  city.  At  seven 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  Knoxville  was  reached, 
and  we  marched  at  once  to  our  old  corps  headquarters, 
where  we  got  our  breakfast  and  received  our  mail. 
^Vhen  the  mail-bag  was  opened  a  letter  was  found  which 
caused  considerable  amusement.  The  address  was  in  the 
form  of  a  poetic  effusion,  and  covered  the  entire  front  of 
the  envelope,  save  that  part  occupied  by  the  stamp,  and 
was  as  follows : 

"  Postmaster  please  let  this  go  free 
down  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee, 
This  three  cent  stamp  will  pay  the  fare 
until  you  find  out  Captain  Gair, 


,863.  WE   ENTERED   THE   FORT.  363 

In  the  New  York  79th  is  he, 

his  gallant  company  known  as  E; 
His  army  corps  is  numbered  Nine 

who  from  the  rebels  take  the  shine." 

A  patrol  was  sent  through  the  town  to  arrest  all  strag 
glers,  quite  a  number  of  whom  were  brought  in  and  sent 
to  their  respective  commands.  At  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  report  to  Colonel 
Morrison  at  the  front,  but,  while  on  the  way  there,  was 
ordered  back  again  to  headquarters,  where  tents  were 
pitched  for  the  night.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  18th 
we  joined  the  brigade  at  the  front,  where,  however,  we 
remained  but  a  few  minutes. 

The  principal  defensive  work  was  a  fort  half  a  mile 
west  of  the  city  and  near  the  Kingston  turnpike.  It  had 
been  begun  by  the  enemy  during  their  occupancy  of  the 
town  and  was  called  by  them  Fort  London.  But  little 
progress  had  been  made  towards  its  completion,  until  it 
became  evident  that  a  retreat  from  Lenoir  was  necessary, 
when  Captain  Poe  had  taken  measures  to  put  the  work  in 
a  defensive  state.  A  large  number  of  laborers  had  been 
employed  night  and  day  for  that  purpose,  and  when  the 
troops  arrived  Lieutenant  Benjamin,  who  was  also  chief 
of  artillery,  had  been  specially  charged  with  its  defence, 
and  he  requested  that  the  Highlanders  be  assigned  to 
duty  as  the  regular  garrison.  His  request  being  granted, 
we  were  ordered  there  and  felt  quite  proud  of  the  distinc 
tion  conferred  upon  us.  On  reporting  at  the  fort,  posi 
tions  were  assigned  the  various  companies  by  Lieutenant 
Benjamin.  B,  H  and  K  were  placed  in  the  northwest 
bastion,  the  other  companies  being  distributed  at  various 
points  along  the  west  and  north  fronts.  Captain  William 
Montgomery  was  in  command  of  the  regiment. 
-  When  we  entered  the  fort  an  engagement  was  in  pro 
gress,  about  a  mile  distant  on  the  Kingston  road,  between 
the  enemy's  advance,  under  General  McLaw,  and  our 


364  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

cavalry  and  mounted  infantry,  under  General  Sanders,  of 
the  Twenty-Third  corps.  The  latter  had  been  ordered  to 
hold  the  enemy  in  check  as  long  as  possible,  in  order  that 
the  troops  arriving  might  be  placed  in  proper  positions  to 
resist  an  attack.  For  several  hours  Sanders'  command 
held  the  enemy  at  bay,  but  was  gradually  driven  in  by 
superior  numbers,  until  the  Confederates  came  within 
short  range  of  the  shells  from  .our  twenty-pounders, 
when  the  engagement  ceased  for  a  while.  In  the  after 
noon  the  fight  was  renewed,  and  as  the  combatants  were 
in  plain  sight,  about  half  a  mile  distant  on  the  hill  just 
below  the  Armstrong  House,  we  watched  the  operations 
with  a  good  deal  of  interest.  Benjamin's  guns  sent  sev 
eral  shells  into  the  enemy's  lines,  but  the  opposing  forces 
were  so  close  together  that  our  own  men  were  in  as  great 
danger  from  the  shells  as  were  the  enemy,  and  Benja 
min's  fir«  ceased. 

McLaw  had  been  ordered  by  Lougstreet  to  push  on 
and  force  his  way  into  the  city,  but  the  task  was  a  diffi 
cult  one  to  perform.  Reeiiforcements  arriving,  the 
enemy  finally  drove  Sanders  from  his  position,  and  we 
"were  prepared  to  give  the  rebels  a  warm  reception, 
should  they  come  within  range  of  our  rifles.  General 
Burnside  was  looking  over  the  parapet  of  the  fort, 
watching  the  engagement,  and  when  he  saw  Sanders 
driven  back  he  went  from  point  to  point  along  the  west 
front  of  the  fort,  encouraging  the  men,  advising  us  to 
"keep  cool,  fire  low,  and  be  sure  and  hit  something 
every  time."  But  the  enemy  contented  himself  with 
driving  back  Sanders'  force  and  occupying  the  crest  of 
the  hill.  General  Sanders,  a  gallant  soldier,  was  mor 
tally  wounded  and  died  a  day  or  two  afterwards,  and 
our  fort  was  named  in  honor  of  his  memory.  Just  be 
fore  dark  we  noticed  that  the  high  ground  to  the  north 
west  of  the  fort,  and  about  a  mile  distant,  was  also 
occupied  by  the  enemy.  Our  pickets  were  now  estab- 


.1863.  FROM   STUMP   TO   STUMP.  367 

lished  011  the  north  and  west,  and  about  four  hundred 
yards  distant  from  the  fort.  The  enemy  had  established 
his  picket  line  about  four  hundred  yards  distant  from 
our  own.  Thus  ended  the  first  day  of  the  siege. 

Now  that  our  thoughts  may  be  turned  from  the  enemy 
for  a  moment,  let  us  look  at  the  situation  within  the 
Union  lines.  Knoxville  is  situated  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  Holston  river,  on  a  plateau  about  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  square,  and  bounded  on  the  east  and  west  by  two 
streams  called  respectively  First  creek  and  Second  creek. 
To  the  east  of  First  creek,  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  dis 
tant,  is  an  elevation  called  Temperance  Hill,  about  two 
hundred  and  thirty  feet  above  the  level,  and  half  a  mile 
north  of,  the  river  ;  on  this  elevation  was  built  Fort 
Huntington  Smith.  To  the  east  of  this  was  Mabry's 
Hill,  of  about  the  same  elevation,  on  the  eastern  extrem 
ity  of  which,  and  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  first 
named  fort,  w^as  Fort  Hill.  On  the  north  of  the  city, 
beginning  at  First  creek,  there  were  :  Battery  Billiiigslee, 
Battery  Wiltsee,,  Fort  Comstock,  and  Battery  Galpin,  the 
latter  flanked  on  the  left  by  Second  creek.  To  the  west 
of  Second  creek  was  Battery  Zoellner,  and  about  seven 
hundred  yards  to  the  southwest  of  that  was  Fort  San 
ders,  two  hundred  feet  above  the  river.  Six  hundred 
yards  south  of  Fort  Sanders,  and  seven  hundred  yards 
from  the  river,  was  Battery  Noble,  while  Fort  Byington, 
on  College  Hill,  defended  an  inner  line,  about  six  hun 
dred  yards  east  of  Battery  Noble.  Between  the  river 
and  Battery  Noble  on  the  west,  or  southwest,  and  the 
river  and  Fort  Hill  on  the  east  of  the  city,  were  lines  of 
intrenchments,  while  other  lines  connected  the  forts  and 
earthworks  already  mentioned.  Abattis  and  chevaux- 
de-frise  were  placed  in  front  of  many  of  the  positions, 
and  in  front  of  Fort  Sanders  there  was  also  a  wire 
entanglement  —  placed  there  by  Lieutenant  Benjamin  - 
the  wires  strung  from  stump  to  stump  in  order  to  ob- 


368  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November,- 

struct  and  break  up  the  lines  of  an  attacking  column. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  siege,  however,  few  of  the  works 
above  mentioned  had  been  begun,  but  soldiers,  citizens 
and  negroes  worked  night  and  day  till  they  were  com 
pleted. 

The  troops  were  distributed  as  follows  :  Morrison's 
brigade  stretched  from  the  river  in  an  irrregular  line 
northwest  to  Fort  Sanders,  and  the  rest  of  the  division 
from  the  fort  to  Second  creek.  Between  that  point  and 
First  creek  the  Second  division  held  the  line,  while 
White's  and  Hascall's  divisions  of  the  Twenty-Third 
corps  stretched  easterly  to  Fort  Hill,  and  thence  south 
west  to  the  river.  South  of  the  river  is  a  range  of  hills 
between  three  and  four  hundred  feet  high,  commanding 
the  town,  but  most  of  the  important  points  were  occu 
pied  by  portions  of  the  Twenty-Third  corps,  the  enemy 
having  batteries  on  two  points  only,  and  those  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  Fort  Sanders. 

There  were  no  siege  guns  at  any  point  on  our  lines. 
Koemer's  light  battery  occupied  College  Hill ;  Benjamin's 
and  Buckley's  were  in  Fort  Sanders  ;  Gitting's  and  the 
Fifteenth  Indiana,  batteries  were  placed  on  the  line  be 
tween  Second  and  First  creeks,  and  Simm's  Twenty- 
Fourth  Indiana  and  Heiishaw's  and  Shield's  batteries, 
with  one  section  of  Wilder's,  were  distributed  along  the 
line  held  by  White  and  Haskell,  while  the  two  other 
sections  of  Wilder's  and  all  of  Konkle's  guns  were  south 
of  the  river.  Two  howitzers  were  placed  at  the  bridge 
heads  covering  the  crossing  of  the  river.  The  East  Ten 
nessee  and  Virginia  (or  Georgia)  railroad  skirted  the 
north  side  of  the  town  and  ran  in  a  general  south 
westerly  and  northeasterly  direction.  All  interest  was 
centered  on  the  lines  north  and  west  of  the  town. 

The  only  part  of  Fort  Sanders  that  was  at  all  in  a 
defensive  condition  when  we  entered  it,  was  the  west  and 
a  portion  of  the  north  fronts,  and  even  in  these  no  em- 


1863.  THE   FORT.  369 

brasures  had  yet  been  cut.  From  Captain  Poe's  report 
the  following  description  of  the  fort  is  taken:  "It  is  a 
bastioned  earth-work,  built  upon  an  irregular  quadrilat 
eral,  the  sides  of  which  are  respectively  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  yards  south  front,  ninety-five  yards  west 
front,  one  hundred  and  twenty  yards  north  front,  and 
eighty-five  yards  east  front.  The  eastern  front  is  entire 
ly  open  and  is  to  be  enclosed  with  a  stockade  ;  the  south 
front  was  about  half  done  ;  the  western  front  was  fin 
ished  except  cutting  the  embrasures  ;  the  north  front  was 
nearly  finished.  Each  bastion  was  intended  to  have  a 
pan  coupe."  Eef erring  to  the  assault  he  states  further  : 
"A  light  twelve-pounder  was  mounted  in  the  pan  coupe 
(of  the  northwest  bastion),  and  did  good  service.  The 
ditch  of  the  fort  was  twelve  feet  in  width,  and  in  many 
places  as  much  as  eight  feet  in  depth.  The  irregularities 
of  the  site  were  such  that  the  bastion  angles  were  very 
heavy,  the  relief  of  the  lightest  one  being  twelve  feet. 
The  relief  of  the  one  attacked  was  about  thirteen  feet, 
and  together  with  the  depth  of  the  ditch,  say  seven  feet, 
made  a  height  of  twenty  feet  from  the  bottom  of  the 
ditch  to  the  interior  crest.  From  the  fort  the  ground 
sloped  towards  the  Confederates,  making  a  natural  but 
rather  irregular  glacis.  All  trees  had  been  cut  away 
from  this  glacis,  the  ground  was  thickly  covered  with 
stumps,  the  branches  of  trees  had  been  utilized  to  form 
an  abattis,  and  a  wire  entanglement  had  been  made  by 
stretching  telegraph  wire  from  stump  to  stump." 

During  our  first  night  in  the  fort  embrasures  were  cut 
in  the  west  and  north  fronts,  and  guns  from  Benjamin's 
and  Buckley's  batteries  placed  ready  for  service.  The 
progress  of  the  siege  will  be  recorded  in  the  form  of  a 
diary. 

Thursday,  IMh.  Second  Day.— We  were  called  up  at 
five  o'clock,  and  at  once  began  to  work  on  the  fort.  The 
morning  opened  dull  and  cloudy;  a  heavy  mist  hung 

24 


370  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

over  the  valley  that  divided  the  lines,  and  we  could  not 
see  our  own  outposts.  When  the  fog  lifted*  we  noticed 
that  the  enemy  was  strongly  posted  on  a  range  of  hills, 
extending  from  a  point  on  the  river  just  south  of  the 
Armstrong  house  along  our  west  and  north  fronts  till  it 
reached  the  line  of  the  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  railroad, 
running  north  from  the  city.  In  a  short  time  the  crest 
of  this  ridge  was  lined  with  men  busily  engaged  in  erect 
ing  earth-works.  This  line  was  about  three-quarters  of 
a,  mile  distant  on  the  west  and  a  mile  or  more  at  the 
point  of  junction  with  the  Clinton  road  and  the  railroad 
just  mentioned.  Thick  woods  covered  for  the  most  part 
the  slope  of  the  hill3  which  afforded  the  enemy  good 
cover.  With  the  appearance  of  daylight  the  opposing 
pickets  began  firing  ;  by  noon  bullets  were  flying  thick, 
and  occasionally  one  would  sing  over  the  fort.  In  the 
afternoon  we  notice  that  the  enemy  are  moving  troops 
more  to  our  right ;  at  three  o'clock  a  detachment  is  sent 
out  to  strengthen  our  line,  and  the  experience  of  one  of 
our  number  is  here  given :  ' '  I  got  behind  a  fallen  tree 
and  within  good  range  of  a  brick  house  down  in  the  hol 
low,  just  below  the  Armstrong  house.  From  the  two 
upper  windows  of  the  brick  house  the  enemy's  sharp 
shooters  were  firing  on  our  men  ;  four  of  us  planned  to 
take  care  of  the  house  and  endeavor  to  silence  the  fire, 
and  we  succeeded,  for  after'  half  an  hour's  work  we 
noticed  that  their  fire  had  ceased.  At  nine  in  the  even 
ing  an  alarm  on  the  line  brought  us  all  to  our  feet  in  a 
hurry,  and  the  reserve  formed  in  line  ;  we  heard  a  crack 
ling  in  the  bushes,  as  if  the  enemy  were  advancing,  and 
we  brought  our  rifles  to  a  ' ready,'  determined  on  having 
the  first  shot,  but  the  sound  seemed  to  recede,  and  on 
inquiry  found  that  it  was  a  party  of  our  own  men,  who 
had  missed  their  way  while  going  to  strengthen  an  out 
post." 

In  the  afternoon  a  flag-staff  was  raised  in  the  fort,  and 


1863.  THE   BRICK   HOUSE.  371 

when  the  flag  was  displayed  the  men  greeted  it  with 
hearty  cheers  ;  the  enemy  also  saluted  it,  with  a  furious 
fire  of  artillery,  and  although  many  of  their  shells  burst 
in  and  near  the  fort,  they  did  no  damage. 

Friday,  20th.  Third  day. — All  quiet  during  the  night. 
Morning  cool  and  misty.  Picket  firing  began  as  soon  as 
the  fog  lifted.  At  nine  o'clock  the  new  picket  were 
ordered  out ;  their  appearance  caused  the  enemy  to  fire 
with  renewed  vigor,  and  there  was  considerable  ducking 
and  dodging  before  the  relieved  men  were  safe  in  the 
fort.  Gangs  of  negroes  are  busily  engaged  in  rolling 
bales  of  cotton  on  the  parapets  of  the  fort,  for  the  better 
protection  of  the  men.  The  interior  crest  being  only 
about  four  feet  above  the  banquette  tread,  the  upper  parts 
of  our  bodies  were  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire.  The 
cotton  bales  were  covered  with  rawhides,  to  prevent 
their  being  ignited  by  our  musket  fire.  It  was  an 
nounced  that  strict  garrison  rules  had  been  adopted  for  the 
government  of  the  fort,  and  that  roll-call  at  five  o'clock 
each  morning  must  find  every  man  at  his  post.  The 
enemy  must  have  advanced  his  picket  line,  for  the  bul 
lets  are  now  singing  over  the  fort  in  very  unpleasant 
frequency,  which  causes  all  hands,  from  General  Ferrero 
down  to  drummer  boy,  to  duck  and  dodge  in  a  manner 
not  at  all  creditable  to  old  soldiers.  Kain  began  to  fall 
in  the  afternoon  and  continued  all  the  evening,  render 
ing  our  situation  very  disagreeable.  It  was  impossible 
to  move  about  without  getting  over  ankles  in  mud,  and 
our  clothing  and  accoutrements  were  soon  in  a  very  dis 
reputable  condition.  There  was  not  room  enough  for  all 
the  men  to  pitch  their  shelter-tents,  and  many  of  us 
received  a  thorough  drenching,  which  added  greatly  to 
our  discomfort. 

The  brick  house  before  mentioned  was  re-occupied  by 
the  enemy,  and  became  very  obnoxious  by  reason  of  the 
constant  fire  from  its  windows  on  our  men,  and  it  was 


372  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

decided  to  destroy  it  by  a  sortie,  and  the  Seventeenth 
Michigan  was  selected  for  the  work.  From  Brearley's 
account  we  have  the  following  :  "  Five  men  volunteered 
for  burners,  who  were  placed  under  the  direction  of 
Major  F.  W.  Swift,  and  were  equipped  with  axes,  port 
fire,  cotton,  turpentine  and  matches.  At  nine  o'clock  in 
the  evening  the  regiment  was  withdrawn  from  its 
position,  and  passing  to  the  rear  and  left  of  the  fort,  and 
scaling  the  breastworks  to  the  right  of  the  Thirty-Sixth 
Massachusetts,  was  advanced  to  the  skirmish  line,  and 
after  stopping  a  few  minutes  to  re-form,  the  men  began 
a  cautious  advance.  When  within  a  hundred  yards  of 
the  enemy's  skirmish  line,  their  men  discovered  our 
advance  and  opened  fire — our  signal  for  a  charge.  Our 
colonel  gave  orders  in  a  loud  voice,  as  if  commanding  a 
brigade,  and  with  cheers,  which  were  full  loud  enough 
to  convey  such  an  impression  to  the  Confederate  skir 
mishers,  the  line  advanced  on  a  run.  Their  men  fled 
with  very  little  ceremony,  and  our  regiment,  advanc 
ing  beyond  the  houses  and  halting,  the  burners  took 
possession  of  the  buildings.  The  brick  house  had  evi 
dently  been  used  as  headquarters  for  the  picket  reserve. 
One  of  the  burners,  while  opening  the  door,  had  a  Con 
federate  soldier  dodge  out  under  his  arm.  There  were 
evidences  of  the  hasty  retreat  of  the  other  inmates — in  an 
overturned  chair  and  an  officer's  sword  hanging  on  a 
nail  in  the  parlor.  In  two  of  the  corners  of  the  room 
blankets  were  spread  out,  which  had  evidently  been 
occupied  but  a  moment  before  ;  these  with  a  baking-ket 
tle  full  of  warm  biscuit,  which  was  standing  on  the  fire 
place  hearth,  showed  how  perfect  had  been  the  surprise, 
and  how  precipitate  their  retreat. 

' i  It  was  the  work  of  but  a  moment  to  fire  the  house, 
but  at  first  it  seemed  almost  a  hopeless  task  to  set  fire  to 
the  log  barns.  Chairs  and  tables  were  brought  from  the 
house  and  broken  up  into  kindling,  still  the  logs,  being 


1863.  BLACK   LOOKING   BREAD.  373 

damp,  did  not  readily  take  fire.  The  house,  however, 
was  soon  all  ablaze,  and  thinking  the  work  had  been 
completed  the  regiment  began  retreating. 

11  Seeing  that  without  support  the  barns  could  not  be 
effectually  fired,  word  was  sent  to  the  regiment,  which 
was  '  about  faced '  at  once,  but  mistaking  the  order  to 
advance  to  the  former  position  for  one  to  begin  firing,  a 
heavy  fire  was  opened  which  for  a  time  placed  the  lives 
of  the  burners  in  the  greatest  danger  from  our  own  bul 
lets.  The  mistake  lasted  but  a  few  moments,  however, 
and  not  long  after  the  former  position  was  regained. 
The  buildings  having  been  effectually  fired  a  retreat  was 
ordered.  The  enemy  had  evidently  been  totally  deceived, 
and  it  was  not  till  the  light  from  the  buildings  revealed 
to  them  our  two  hundred  men  full  half  way  back  to  our 
lines  that  they  learned  that  the  anticipated  attack  was, 
instead,  a  successful  sortie.  A  furious  cannonade  was  at 
once  opened  from  their  batteries,  and  the  surprise  was 
transferred  from  them  to  us,  for  it  will  always  remain  a 
matter  of  surprise  to  me  that  but  two  of  our  men  were 
killed." 

Saturday,  21st.  Fourth  day. — Bain  was  falling  at  day 
light  and  continued  all  the  forenoon.  In  the  afternoon 
the  men  on  picket  ventured  to  build  small  fires,  and  by 
lying  on  the  ground  and  turning  themselves  occasionally, 
managed  to  partly  dry  their  clothing.  During  the  day 
rations  were  served  out,  consisting  of  a  small  piece  of 
rather  black-looking  bread,  made  from  a  mixture  of 
graham  flour  and  corn  meal.  One  of  the  men  on  picket 
said:  "At  dark  our  rations  were  brought  out  to  us. 
Each  man  received  quarter-rations  of  black  bread.  It 
was  very  coarse-looking,  and  had  we  not  been  very  hun 
gry  it  would  have  been  discarded  as  unfit  to  eat.  I  ate 
mine  at  once,  and  could  have  eaten  more  if  I  had  had  it ; 
but  it  was  my  ration  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  if  my 
tent-mate,  who  was  off  duty,  had  not  procured  some 


374  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

' extras'  in  town,  I  would  have  been  hungry  enough 
before  the  next  ration  was  issued.  'Long  Andy'  was 
acting  as  our  company  cook  on  this  day,  and  when  he 
approached  the  picket  line  with  a  couple  of  haversacks 
filled  with  the  rations,  he  was  fired  on  by  the  enemy. 
Andy  was  brave,  even  reckless  at  times,  and  the 
whistling  bullets  did  n't  scare  him  a  bit.  Putting  down 
his  load,  he  took  a  chunk  of  the  black  bread,  held  it  up 
at  arm's  length  and  shook  it  at  the  'Johnnies,'  crying 

out  at  the  same  time  :  '  You  b s,  do  you  want  a 

bite » '  The  firing  ceased. " 

It  took  considerable  planning  and  scheming  to  keep  us 
in  provisions,  but  by  paying  a  pretty  good  price  we  gen 
erally  managed  to  secure  enough  to  keep  us  from  abso 
lute  want.  Our  coffee  rations  were  stopped  entirely,  the 
small  supply  on  hand  being  reserved  for  the  sick,  and 
those  smart  enough  or  selfish  enough  to  secure,  by 
bribery  or  stealing,  the  coveted  luxury.  The  men  set  to 
work  to  supply  substitutes  for  coffee.  Some  obtained 
wheat,  others  stole-  corn  from  the  poor  old  mules,  roasted 
and  ground  it,  and  while  it  had  none  of  the  flavor  of 
"Government  Java,"  did  very  well  for  a  hot  drink.  An 
article  labeled  "Jeff  Davis'  Substitute  "  was  sold  in  town, 
for  seventy-five  cents  per  pound  package,  which  was 
tried,  but  found  to  be  simply  a  mixture  of  wheat  and 
chicory — as  big  a  fraud  as  its  illustrious  prototype. 

Sunday,  22nd.  Fifth  day. — Quiet  during  the  night. 
Morning  cold  and  foggy.  At  roll-call  the  new  picket 
was  called  off,  it  being  deemed  more  prudent  to  change 
reliefs  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  as  two  men  had 
already  been  wounded  while  making  the  change  during 
the  day  time.  It  was  found  quite  difficult  to  navigate 
about  the  fort  in  the  dark,  however,  owing  to  the  wire 
entanglement.  The  knowledge  of  its  presence  did  not 
prevent  many  from  measuring  their  length  on  the 
ground  as  they  passed  to  or  from  the  fort. 


i863. 


FIRED   THE   BUILDINGS.  375 


At  daylight  the  enemy  opened  oii'the  fort  with  their 
artillery.  Several  shells  burst  in  the  fort  without  injur 
ing  any  one,  but  the  fusillade  had  the  effect  of  making 
us  lie  close  under  the  parapets  and  prevented  Chaplain 
Kennedy  from  conducting  divine  service.  The  bullets, 
too,  flew  thick  and  fast  all  day.  The  picket  line  of  the 
enemy  had  advanced  nearly  a  hundred  yards,  while  ours 
had  been  correspondingly  drawn  in.  Longstreet  was 
evidently  preparing  for  the  assault  by  pushing  his  lines 
as  close  to  the  fort  as  possible,  so  that  by  a  brilliant  dash 
he  might  carry  the  works  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
But  the  time  spent  by  him  in  thus  digging  his  way  was 
not  lost  by  us.  Work  was  being  continually  pushed  on 
the  north  front,  and  the  longer  the  enemy  delayed  the 
more  slender  grew  their  chances  of  success. 

Monday,  23d.  Sixth  day.— At  daylight  we  find  that 
the  enemy,  by  pushing  forward  their  lines  on  our  right, 
have  obtained  a  cross-fire  on  a  part  of  our  picket  line  011 
the  west  front,  but  by  a  little  digging  with  our  bayonets 
we  managed  to  deepen  our  holes  and  raise  our  defences, 
so  that  we  escaped  any  serious  consequences.  We  fre 
quently  drew  the  enemy's  fire  by  the  old  dodge  :  while 
one  of  our  number  held  up  his  cap  on  the  end  of  his  ram 
rod,  two  or  three  more  would  have  their  pieces  at  a 
' '  ready, "  so  as  to  fire  the  moment  a  puff  of  smoke  was 
seen  from  the  enemy's  rifle.  At  five  o'clock  the  cooks 
came  out  with  our  rations,  and  although  it  was  getting 
dark  there  was  considerable  firing  on  the  lines  and  Com 
pany  E's  cook  was  wounded.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the 
evening  a  stampede  occurred  on  the  right  of  our  line, 
caused  by  some  misunderstanding  of  orders.  The  tumult 
was  soon  quieted,  but  at  nine  o'clock  a  genuine  alarm 
was  raised.  The  pickets  of  the  Second  division,  which 
were  posted  near  the  railroad  shops  just  north  of  the 
town,  were  attacked  and  driven  in.  According  to 
orders,  they  fired  the  buildings  before  retreating,  and  in 


376  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

a  short  time  the  whole  region  was  illuminated  by  the 
flames.  The  enemy  opened  with  artillery  and  for  a  little 
while  we  thought  that  a  general  attack  would  be  made. 
One  of  the  buildings  fired  contained  a  lot  of  artillery 
ammunition,  left  by  the  enemy  when  they  evacuated  the 
city  in  August,  and  which  would  not  fit  our  pieces,  and 
when  the  flames  reached  that,  and  the  shells  burst,  the 
explosions  threw  the  burning  embers  high  in  air  and 
made  a  grand  display.  The  enemy  kept  up  a  continuous 
yelling,  too,  which,  with  the  burning  buildings,  explod 
ing  ammunition,  artillery  fire,  and  volleys  of  musketry, 
made  such  a  racket  as  we  had  seldom  heard  or  wit 
nessed. 

During  the  excitement  Lieutentant  Benjamin  and 
Chaplain  Kennedy,  were  standing  at  the  north  front, 
looking  over  the  parapet,  when  a  shell  struck  and 
exploded  near  by.  The  Chaplain  felt  a  stinging  sensa 
tion  over  his  left  eye,  staggered  a  little,  and  when  Benja 
min  asked  if  he  was  hit,  replied,  ' '  Yes,  but  the  skin  is 
not  broken."  The  missile  proved  to  be  a  piece  of  clay 
from  the  parapet,  blown  out  by  the  exploding  shell.  We 
listened  intently  to  notice  any  demonstration  in  front  of 
the  fort,  but  all  was  silent  there.  At  midnight  the  build 
ings  had  been  consumed  and  quiet  reigned  for  the  rest  of 
the  night.  The  weather  was  beautiful  and  clear. 

Tuesday,  2±th.  Seventh  Day. — At  daylight  rain  began 
to  fall,  and  at  the  same  time  the  Second  Michigan  made 
a  charge  on  the  enemy's  line  north  of  the  fort,  in  order 
to  drive  their  skirmishers  from  an  advanced  rifle-pit 
which  had  been  discovered  the  previous  morning,  and 
from  which  came  the  flank  fire  that  annoyed  us  on  the 
west  front.  The  brave  fellows  pushed  gallantly  on,  and 
had  succeeded  in  partially  accomplishing  the  work  of 
destroying  the  rifle-pit  when  a  heavy  reserve  was  brought 
forward  by  the  enemy,  and  our  men  were  driven  back. 
The  Second  suffered  severely.  Further  to  our  right 


,863.  DID   NOT   FALTER.  377 

another  part  of  the  enemy's  line  was  assaulted  at  the 
same  time,  and  is  thus  described  by  Colonel  Hawkes,  of 
the  Twenty-First  Massachusetts,  in  the  history  of  that 
regiment  :  "Lieutenant  Hitchcock,  of  our  brigade  staff, 
came  to  my  quarters  about  four  A.  M.  ,  with  orders  for  me  to 
report  at  brigade  headquarters  immediately,  hinting  that 
there  was  work  for  me  to  do.  I  went  and  received  orders 
to  take  the  Twenty-First  Massachusetts,  Major  Richard 
son  commanding,  and  the  Forty-Eighth  Pennsylvania, 
Major  Gilmore  commanding,  at  daylight,  and  charge  the 
enemy,  and  retake  the  ground  taken  from  us  last  even 
ing.  I  told  the  Colonel  commanding  the  brigade  that  I 
would  do  as  well  as  I  could.  I  took  my  little  brigade, 
and  marched  by  flank  to  left  of  enemy.  Everything  was 
ready  at  daylight.  The  order  was  given  *  Forward,'  and 
the  two  regiments  went  through.  The  fire  was  quite 
hot,  but  the  boys  did  not  falter.  We  retook  the  rifle- 
pits,  driving  out  the  Palmetto  Sharpshooters  —  a  gallant 
regiment  from  South  Carolina — and  taking  some  prison 
ers." 

Our  guns  in  the  fort  opened  fire  while  these  assaults 
were  being  made,  in  order  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
enemy  and  divert  his  fire,  but  we  were  obliged  to  be  very 
sparing  of  our  ammunition  ;  the  supply  was  quite  limited, 
and  would,  doubtless,  be  needed  for  closer  action.  Our 
artillerists  would  sometimes  fret  and  fume  at  being- 
obliged  to  keep  quiet  while  the  enemy's  shells  were  burst 
ing  about  us  ;  the  boys  wanted  the  privilege  of  -"jawing 
back."  The  bullets  flew  as  thick  as  usual  over  and  into 
the  fort,  and  one  man  of  Company  C  was  shot  in  the 
neck.  The  circumstances  attending  this  case  are  so 
peculiar  as  to  call  for  more  than  a  brief  mention. 

This  man,  who  shall  be  nameless  here,  deserted  from 
the  regiment  about  the  time  we  left  Louisville  in  March. 
While  we  were  in  camp  at  Crab  Orchard,  just  before 
starting  on  our  journey  over  the  mountains,  he  was 


378  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November; 

brought  back  under  guard,  having  been  apprehended  and 
kept  in  arrest  while  the  regiment  was  in  Mississippi  ;  he 
was  tried  by  court-martial,  found  guilty  and  sentenced 
to  be  shot.  Pending  the  approval  of  the  sentence  by  the 
proper  authorities,  he  was  placed  under  a  regimental 
guard,  and  accompanied  us  into  Tennessee.  A  day  or 
two  before  the  siege  was  established,  orders  were  received 
approving  the  sentence,  and  directing  the  execution  to 
take  place  ;  but  the  excitement  incident  upon  the  enemy's 
advance  caused  a  delay,  and,  after  the  siege  began,  more 
was  thought  of  preserving  the  lives  of  our  men  than  of 
shooting  them.  When  it  was  found  that  we  were  hem 
med  in  by  a  greatly  superior  force,  and  that  every  man 
in  our  ranks  ' '  counted, "  the  condemned  soldier,  and  all 
other  military  prisoners,  were  returned  to  their  com 
panies  to  assist  in  the  defence,  and  the  company  com 
manders  instructed  to  place  them  on  any  duty  more 
dangerous  than  another.  Of  course,  there  was  not  much 
choice  of  positions,  for  as  many  men  were  wounded 
while  in  the  fort  as  when  on  outpost  duty. 

Our  man  was  placed  on  an  equality,  so  far  as  danger 
was  concerned,  with  his  comrades.  He  had  served  sev 
eral  turns  of  duty,  and  was  one  of  the  most  vigilant  on 
the  whole  line.-  At  the  time  of  being  wounded,  he  was 
sitting  in  his  tent  smoking  his  pipe.  It  was  just  a  little 
before  dark,  and  the  firing  had  almost  ceased  for  the 
day.  The  bullet  struck  in  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  the 
man  fell-  on  his  face,  as  his  companions  supposed,  dead. 
Almost  immediately,  however,  he  picked  himself  up,  and 
finding  something  more  troublesome  than  smoke  in  his 
mouth,  he  quietly  spat  out  blood  and  the  bullet  into  his 
hand  !  It  was  a  miiiie-ball  of  the  usual  calibre,  but  had 
been  well  spent  before  reaching  its  billet.  The  wounded 
man  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  but  it  was  a  long  time 
before  he  was  able  to  be  moved.  Finally,  an  application 
was  made  to  have  him  removed  to  New  York,  where  he 


1863. 

recovered  in  time.  In  concluding  the  narrative,  the 
captain  of  his  company  said  :  "That's  what  you  might 
call  shooting  a  man  to  save  his  life." 

During  the  night  the  enemy  sent  a  detachment  across 
the  river  to  attack  our  works  there,  but  were  repulsed. 
They  afterwards  succeeded  in  placing  a  battery  on  an 
elevation  in  such  a  position  as  to  enfilade  the  fort. 

Wednesday,  2oth.  Eiylith  day. — "  On  picket  again,  at 
five  o'clock,"  one  of  our  men  writes  home :  "This  was 
getting  rather  monotonous  ;  on  picket  every  other  night, 
and  when  relieved  in  the  morning,  we  might  sleep  till 
noon,  unless  called  out  by  a  general  alarm,  which  occur 
red  altogether  too  frequently.  In  the  afternoon  we  were 
obliged  to  perform  such  work  about  the  fort  as  was 
necessary,  and  we  had  little  time  to  wash  or  mend  our 
clothes,  and  our  uniforms  were  uniformly  ragged  and 
dirty."  When  daylight  appeared,  those  of  us  on  the 
right  of  our  picket  line  noticed  that  the  lines  of  the 
enemy  had  been  considerably  advanced  in  that  direction. 
There  was  no  chaffing  between  the  rival  pickets,  as  on 
former  occasions  ;  each  side  seemed  to  feel  that  the  situa 
tion  was  too  serious  for  anything  but  hard  knocks.  We 
were  much  annoyed  by  the  sharpshooters.  During  the 
day  the  battery  planted  during  the  previous  night  by  the 
enemy,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  opened  on  the 
fort,  and  had  their  guns  been  heavy  enough,  our  works 
would  have  been  completely  enfiladed.  For  fear  that 
proper  guns  would  be  turned  against  us,  measures  were 
taken  to  defilade  the  fort.  Three  more  of  our  number 
were  wounded  while  in  the  fort,  among  whom  was  Lieu 
tenant  Watson,  who  was  lying  under  his  shelter-tent 
when  a  bullet  struck  him  in  the  leg.  Only  a  day  or  two 
before,  he  had  purchased  a  pair  of  new  boots,  and  the 
bullet  made  a  great  rent  in  the  side  of  one  of  them.  "  0, 
h — 1  ! "  was  his  first  exclamation  ;  "  it  has  spoiled  my 
new  boots. "  Wound  and  blood  were  alike  forgotten ; 


380  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

the  one  might  be  cured  and  the  other  washed  away,  but 
the  boot  was  ruined. 

The  moon  this  evening  was  full,  and  the  night  beauti 
ful  and  clear.  As  we  lay  wrapped  in  our  overcoats  and 
blankets,  listening  and  watching  for  the  least  movement 
of  the  enemy,  we  could  occasionally  hear  the  sound  of  a 
pickaxe  as  it  struck  a  stone.  This  would  at  once  drive 
all  sentimental  thoughts  from  our  minds,  and  bring  us 
back  from  reveries  of  home  and  friends  to  the  stern  reali 
ties  of  our  situation.  It  was  cold,  too,  and,  as  fires  were 
interdicted,  even  the  striking  of  a  match  to  light  our 
pipes  being  prohibited,  we  found  it  difficult  to  keep  warm. 
The  sound  of  the  digging  told  us,  in  no  uncertain  tones, 
that  the  climax  was  approaching  ;  that  as  soon  as  the 
enemy  got  within  a  proper  distance  of  the  fort,  the  grand 
assault  would  be  made,  and  the  great  question  decided  — 
whether  we  or  the  enemy  should  winter  in  Knoxville. 
From  first  to  last,  however,  not  a  word  was  heard  from  a 
single  member  of  the  regiment  other  than  that  of  perfect 
confidence  in  our  ability  to  "  Hold  the  Fort." 

Thursday,  26th.  Ninth  day. — Those  who  were  relieved 
from  picket  at  half -past  five,  after  eating  their  scanty 
breakfast,  were  obliged  to  join  with  those  already  at  work 
in  the  construction  of  a  bomb-proof,  which  was  finished 
at  noon.  In  the  afternoon  some  of  us  visited  the  hospital 
in  town,  to  inquire  for  our  sick  and  wounded  comrades. 
Sergeants  Duncan  and  Hill,  and  private  Dalrymple,  of 
Company  B,  had  each  lost  a  leg  at  Blue  Springs,  and  we 
found  that  their  ingenuity  had  devised  a  plan  whereby 
they  could  dispense  with  the  constant  attendance  of  a 
nurse,  who  was  needed  at  the  front.  The  bandages  on 
their  legs  must  be  kept  moist,  and  bottles  of  water,  with 
perforated  corks,  were  hung  suspended,  neck  down  wards, 
over  their  beds,  the  water  falling  drop  by  drop.  We 
found  all  doing  well,  and  quite  anxious  for  news  from 
the  front.  We  gave  them  an  account  of  the  siege,  and 


,863.  ONLY   ONE  SHIRT.  381 

assured  them  that  we  were  abundantly  able  to  defend 
the  works.  By  this  time  rumors  of  the  defeat  of  Bragg's 
army  at  Chattanooga  had  reached  us,  and  hopes  of  a 
speedy  release  from  our  unenviable  position  took  posses 
sion  of  our  minds.  The  usual  camp  bulletins  were  not 
long  in  flying  about  ;  we  learned  that  the  right  wing  of 
our  little  army  was  under  marching  orders  to  follow  up 
the  enemy,  who  would,  doubtless,  retreat  towards  Vir 
ginia.  We  were  all  very  hopeful,  looking  generally  on 
the  bright  side  of  affairs,  and  did  not  borrow  trouble, 
which  we  realized  might  come  soon  enough.  Sharp 
picket  firing  was  kept  up  all  day.  A  comrade  says : 
*'  Late  in  the  afternoon  I  went  down  to  the  brook,  be 
tween  the  fort  and  the  town,  to  wash  my  underclothes. 
I  had  only  one  shirt,  and  w^as  obliged  to  sit  close  to  the 
fire,  wrapped  in  my  blanket,  while  that  article  was  dry 
ing."  At  tattoo  all  was  quiet  011  the  picket  line. 

Friday,  27th.  Tenth  day. — Morning  opened  clear  and 
pleasant.  One  of  our  picket  posts  was  occupied  by  two 
men,  who,  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  the  hour,  thought 
they  would  try  to  get  a  shot  at  the  ''Johnnies."  The 
incident  w^as  thus  related  :  ' 4  Campbell  held  his  cap  up  on 
his  ramrod,  while  I  had  my  gun  levelled,  ready  to  fire  ; 
the  '  reb's '  gun  and  my  own  spoke  almost  simultane 
ously,  and  Campbell  exclaimed  :  *  D— 11  it,  I'm  hit  !' 
The  '  Johnnie '  was  sharp,  and  had  aimed  two  feet  or 
more  below  the  cap  !  A  slight  flesh  wound  in  the  arm 
was  the  result,  and,  as  it  would  have  been  sure  death  to 
have  tried  to  gain  the  fort  during  daylight,  the  wound 
was  dressed  with  a  little  water  from  our  canteens,  and  a 
handkerchief  tied  about  the  arm.  We  concluded  not  to 
draw  any  more  fire  that  day,  and  lay  down  close  behind 
our  log." 

At  eight  in  the  evening  we  heard  great  cheering  —  or 
yelling — within  the  rebel  lines,  supplemented  with  music 
by  their  bands.  After  this  quieted  down  a  few  words 
were  exchanged  with  the  pickets.  "  How  are  you,  Vicks- 


382  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

burg?"  was  asked,  to  which  we  replied:  "You  hain't 
.got  us  yet ;  a  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush." 
Our  artillery  opening  at  this  moment  caused  a  suspen 
sion  of  the  conversation,  but  at  midnight  all  was  quiet. 
We  afterwards  learned  that  the  arrival  of  reeiiforce- 
meiits,  and  a  report  that  Bragg's  army  had  beaten  Grant, 
was  the  cause  of  their  rejoicing.  Rain  began  falling 
during  the  night  and  the  weather  grew  very  cold. 

Saturday,  2Sth.  Eleventh  day. — Morning  rainy  and 
€old.  Ice  had  formed  during  the  night.  At  seven 
o'clock  rain  was  still  falling.  The  mud  in  the  fort  was 
six  inches  deep  on  the  level,  and  in  places  was  deeper. 
In  the  midst  of  grumblings  from  the  "  sore-heads,"  some 
lighter-hearted  comrade  would  break  out  with  the  re 
frain,  "We're  happy  because  it  can't  last."  "Why, 
it 's  all  in  the  three  years,  boys  ! "  another  would  say, 
and  so  we  endeavored  to  make  our  lot  as  pleasant  as 
possible,  but  it  was  sometimes  difficult  to  do  so  on  empty 
—or  hungry — stomachs. 

During  the  afternoon  the  enemy  was  observed  moving 
large  bodies  of  troops  towards  our  right.  Their  lines 
had  approached  closer  in  that  direction  than  on  the  west 
front  of  the  fort,  and  we  looked  for  an  assault  in  that 
direction.  Night  closed  in  without  any  demonstration, 
however,  but  110  one  was  allowed  to  sleep.  Those  who 
had  been  out  the  night  before  could  not  help  nodding 
their  heads  as  we  sat  round  our  little  fires  and  tried  to 
keep  warm.  At  eleven  o'clock  a  general  alarm  was 
sounded — "Fall  in,  boys!  They're  coming!  Every 
man  to  his  post  ! " 

There  was  but  little  excitement  among  us  —  nothing 
but  a  grim  determination  to  do  all  that  we  were  capable 
of  doing.  Our  batteries  fired  a  few  shots,  but  as  the 
enemy  did  not  appear  the  fire  soon  ceased  ;  it  was  evi 
dent,  however,  that  daylight  would  bring  us  face  to  face. 
We  learned  that  our  pickets  had  been  driven  in,  and 
were  now  lying  close  up  to  the  ditch  of  the  fort,  while 


.,863.  LANYARD   IN   HAND.  383 

the  enemy  occupied  the  places  from  which  our  men  had 
been  driven.  Lieutenant  Benjamin,  in  the  absence  of 
suitable  hand-grenades,  had  prepared,  some  time  before 
this,  a  number  of  twenty-pounder  shells,  to  be  used  in 
case  of  an  attack  ;  the  fuses  had  been  cut  at  twenty 
seconds,  and  would  explode  in  a  moment  or  two  after 
they  reached  the  bottom  of  the  ditch.  These  shells  had 
been  laid  in  a  row  on  the  banquette  tread  at  various  points 
on  the  west  and  north  fronts  of  the  fort,  ready  for 
instant  use.  We  often  wished — as  they  were  dangerous 
neighbors — that  the  "darned  things"  were  somewhere 
else.  The  cotton  bales  had  been  placed  on  the  parapet, 
about  two  feet  from  the  interior  crest,  which  afforded 
standing  room  for  us  to  look  over  the  bales  ;  that  was  a 
dangerous  outlook,  however,  and  we  seldom  attempted 
to  take  observations  during  the  day  time.  Even  on  a 
clear  night  our  heads  could  be  seen  against  the  sky,  and 
the  enemy's  fire  was  frequently  drawn.  Now  we  ven 
tured  to  take  frequent  peeps  over  the  bales  and  through 
the  embrasures,  but  nothing  could  be  seen  or  heard  of 
the  enemy,  after  they  had  driven  in  our  pickets.  We 
were  obliged  to  remain  in  our  places,  under  arms,  all 
night.  Ammunition  boxes  had  been  opened  and  besides 
our  full  pouches,  each  man  had  as  many  cartridges  piled 
up  on  the  parapet  before  him  as  he  would  be  likely  to 
need.  All  the  spare  rifles  that  could  be  found  were 
loaded,  and  nearly  all  our  pieces  were  double-shotted. 
The  gunners  were  at  their  posts,  and  the  twelve-pounder 
howitzers  in  the  northwest  bastion  were  double-shotted 
with  grape  or  cannister,  while  "number  four"  stood 
with  lanyard  in  hand,  ready  to  fire.  During  the  night 
the  Second  Michigan  and  a  detachment  from  the  Twenty- 
Ninth  Massachusetts  were  moved  to  the  north  front  of 
the  fort,  and  occupied  positions  on  the  right  of  the 
Highlanders,  from  which  points  they  could  sweep  the 
ditch  with  their  rifles. 


384  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November^ 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN  [CONTINUED.]— SIEGE  OF  KNOX- 
VILLE  (CONCLUDED).— THE  ASSAULT  AND  REPULSE  AT  FORT 
SANDERS. 

MORNING  of  the  29th. — The  New  Picket. — A  Last  Request. — The  Enemy's  Artil 
lery  Opens  Fire. — Watching  the  Shells.  — Advance  of  Enemy's  Infantry. — 
Pickets  Retire  to  the  Fort. — Enemy  at  the  Ditch. — Their  Reception. — 
"Remember  James  Island!" — The  Twenty- Pounder  Hand  Grenades. — 
Death  of  Sergeant  Denham. — A  Loud  Call. — The  Second  Assaulting  Col 
umn, — What  the  Twelve-Pounder  Surrendered. — Enemy  on  the  Parapet. — 
Sergeant  Dunn  and  his  Axe. — Sergeant  Judge  Captures  a  Flag. —  Retreat  of 
the  Enemy. — Prisoners  Enter  the  Fort. — "Yees  Yankees  is  Divils!" — A  Sad 
Duty. — The  Truce. — Accounts  of  the  Attack  from  Confederate  Sources. — 
Meeting  the  Enemy  on  the  Picket  Line. — Smoking  the  Pipe  of  Peace. — 
How  Deserters  were  Run  in. — Occupying  our  Old  Lines  Again. — News  of 
Grant's  Victory  at  Chattanooga. — The  Wooden  Mortar. — Sherman's  Advance 
Causes  the  Enemy  to  Raise  the  Siege. — "  Good-bye,  Johnnie." 

SUNDAY,  2Mh.  Twelfth  day.— Those  of  us  whoso 
^  turn,  it  was  to  go  on  picket  at  half-past  five  looked 
rather  sober,  feeling  sure  that  as  soon  as  the  enemy 
heard  us  moving  about  the  glacis  we  would  be  fired 
upon  ;  but  the  orders  we  received  made  even  that  dan 
ger  seem  slight.  We  were  ordered  to  advance  and  occupy 
the  positions  from  which  the  old  picket  had  been  driven 
during  the  night,  and  which  we  believed  were  now  occu 
pied  by  the  wide-awake  and  vigilant  enemy  !  Had  it 
been  practicable  for  us  to  have  charged  across  the  inter 
vening  space,  we  would  have  felt  more  sure  of  driving 
the  enemy  from  their  supposed  position,  but  the  wires 


1863.  DON'T  BE  so  BLUE.  385 

precluded  any  such  movement,  and  we  were  obliged  to 
sneak  along  in  skirmishing  order  through  the  entangle 
ment  upon  our  unseen  foe.  We  thought  this  was  rather 
fool-hardy,  still  we  were  ready  to  obey  orders  and  make 
the  attempt  - 

"  Ours  not  to  make  reply, 
Ours  not  to  reason  why, 
Ours  but  to  do  and  die." 

Just  as  we  were  about  to  leave  the  fort,  Orderly-Ser 
geant  Denham,  of  Company  B,  approached  his  junior, 
and  handing  him  the  roll-book,  said :  "Bill,  put  that  in 
your  pocket,  and  if  anything  happens  to  me  please  write 
to  my  wife  ;  you  will  find  her  address  on  the  fly-leaf." 

"  Why,  Tom,  I  'm  going  out  on  picket,  and  the  proba 
bilities  are  that  I  won't  come  back  alive  ;  as  you  are  to 
remain  in  the  fort  your  chances  are  much  better  than 
mine.  Put  the  book  in  your  own  pocket,  and  don't  be 
so  blue." 

* '  No,  you  take  it. "  And  thrusting  the  book  into  his 
junior's  hand  he  turned  away.  The  sergeant  put  the 
book  in  his  blouse  pocket  and  thought  no  more  of  the 
circumstance  till  after  the  assault. 

Silently  we  made  our  way  outside,  deployed,  and, 
with  rifles  at  a  "ready,"  slowly  and  cautiously  advanced. 
We  expected  every  moment  to  see  the  flash  and  hear 
the  reports  and  the  whistling  of  the  bullets  from  the 
enemy's  rifles,  yet  all  was  quiet.  At  last  we  reached 
our  "rat-holes,"  into  w^hich  we  flopped,  greatly  relieved 
and  wondering  for  a  moment  at  our  good  fortune. 
It  appeared  that  the  enemy  had  withdrawn  this  part  of 
their  line,  doubtless  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  their 
alignment.  We  all  breathed  freer  after  our  narrow  (?) 
escape. 

But  we  had  not  long  to  wait  for  news  from  the  enemy. 
Scarcely  twenty  minutes  elapsed  before  a  gun  was  fired 
from  their  battery  near  the  Armstrong  house.  We  saw 

25 


386  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

the  flash  before  the  report  reached  our  ears,  and  we  had 
time  to  screen  ourselves  ;  the  shell  burst  beyond  the  fort. 
This  seemed  to  be  a  signal  gun,  for  immediately  their 
whole  line  of  guns  opened,  and  for  a  few  minutes  we 
witnessed  as  fine  a  display  of  "sky  rockets"  as  we  had 
ever  seen.  The  men  seldom  cared  much  for  the  enemy's 
shells,  as  but  few  were  injured  by  them,  so  we  watched 
them  fly  over  our  heads  as  though  they  had  been  indeed 
as  harmless  as-  rockets.  We  knew  their  infantry  would 
not  advance  while  the  shelling  continued,  and  we  felt 
sure  of  being  able  to  get  into  the  fort  before  they  reached 
the  ditch.  We  were  really  safer  where  we  lay,  for  soon 
the  shells  were  bursting  in  and  about  the  fort  in  such 
numbers  as  to  render  every  foot  of  ground  dangerous  in 
the  extreme.  The  shrieks  of  the  murderous  missiles 
were  well  calculated  to  shake  the  morale  of  men  less 
accustomed  than  the  Highlanders  to  such  music.  Now 
a  shell  strikes  a  stump  between  us  and  the  fort,  shivers 
it  to  atoms  and  sends  the  chips  flying  about  our  ears. 
Another  strikes  the  end  of  a  log  behind  which  some  of 
us  are  lying,  and  just  as  we  begin  to  think  the  plaguy 
things  are  getting  too  familiar  the  fire  ceases. 

Darkness  had  given  place  to  the  gray  dawn  and  we 
knew  the  enemy  would  not  be  long  in  making  their 
appearance.  "Now,  boys  !  Look  sharp  !  Do  you  see 
them  ? "  "Yes,  by  -  -  !  There  they  come  !  "  Instinc 
tively,  one  of  our  number  levels  his  rifle  to  fire,  but  his 
hand  is  arrested  by  a  comrade  who  remonstrates  :  ' '  You 
-  fool !  Do  n't  draw  their  fire  on  us  !  "  "  Now,  boys, 
into  the  fort  as  fast  as  your  legs  will  carry  you  !  '  Deil 
tak  the  hinmost,'  but  look  out  for  the  wires  !  "  It  was 
a  grand  rush  to  the  southwest  angle.  A  number  were 
tripped  up  by  the  entanglement.  "Long  Andy  "went 

down.     "  D n  the  wires  ! "  he  exclaimed,  but  was  up 

again  in  an  instant.  A  single  plank  only  spanned  the 
ditch,  and  in  the  scramble  two  or  three  were  thrown  over. 


1 863.  THE   BLOODY  WORK.  389 

Just  as  we  were  crowding  over  the  plank,  the  roar  of 
artillery,  volleys  of  musketry  and  yells  of  the  rebels 
broke  upon  our  ears  from  the  direction  of  the  northwest 
bastion.  Not  a  shot  had  been  fired  from  the  fort  until 
the  enemy  were  within  fifty  yards  of  the  muzzles  of  our 
pieces.  ' '  Hurry,  boys  !  To  your  posts  ! "  We  were  soon 
there  and  found  our  comrades  actively  engaged  in  repell 
ing  the  assault. 

The  attacking  party  had  reached  the  ditch  before  we 
gained  our  positions,  and  a  scene  was  being  enacted  diffi 
cult  for  pen  to  describe.  The  artillery,  depressed  to  the 
lowest  point,  was  hurling  double  and  triple  charges  of 
canister  into  the  masses  of  the  enemy.  Some  of  our  men 
were  firing  over  the  cotton  bales  and  others  through  the 
embrasures  occupied  by  the  artillery  ;  still  others  were 
pouring  a  destructive  flank  fire  from  their  rifles,  and 
enfilading  the  ditch  on  both  the  north  and  west  fronts. 
Both  officers  and  men  were  shouting  and  encouraging 
each  other  :  ' '  Give  it  to  them,  boys  !  Kemember  James 
Island  !  Kemember  James  Island  !  "  The  enemy,  finding 
that  the  ditch  barred  their  progress,  seemed  at  fault. 
They  crowded  about  the  edge,  and,  hoping  to  escape  the 
murderous  fire  of  our  artillery  and  rifles,  many  jumped 
into  the  ditch  !  Now  was  Benjamin's  opportunity,  and, 
assisted  by  Captain  Baird,  who  held  a  burning  stick,  the 
twenty-pound  shells  were  ignited  and  rolled  down  among 
the  living  mass  below.  As  they  burst,  yells,  shrieks  and 
groans  attested  the  bloody  work  !  Now  the  enemy's  fire 
slackens  and  we  can  see  that  many  of  them  are  hurry 
ing  to  the  rear.  A  cheer  goes  up  from  our  throats,  but 
is  instantly  answered  by  a  chorus  of  yells  from  a  fresh 
column  of  the  enemy,  who,  nothing  daunted  by  the 
repulse  of  their  first  line,  now  crowd  up  to  the  assault. 
The  wires  trip  many  and  break  their  lines  ;  many  fall 
to  rise  no  more,  but  the  living  press  forward. 

On  entering  the  fort  the  sergeant  to  whom  the  roll- 


390  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

book  of  his  company  had  been  given  but  a  few  minutes 
before,  noticed  one  or  two  men  fall  as  they  were  in  the 
act  of  firing  over  the  cotton  bales.  It  seemed  to  be  a 
needless  exposure,  as  scores  of  the  enemy  lay  behind  the 
stumps,  not  a  dozen  yards  away,  with  their  rifles  ranged 
for  that  particular  point,  and  whenever  a  head  appeared 
a  dozen  bullets  flew  to  the  mark.  Appealing  to  the 
orderly-sergeant  who  was  in  command  of  the  company, 
to  stop  the  men  from  thus  exposing  themselves,  the 
answer  came  :  ' '  Oh,  I  Ve  fired  several  shots  that  way 
myself  and  hit  'em  every  time,  and  I  'm  going  to  fire  just 
one  more."  "  For  God's  sake,  Tom,  do  n't  do  it  !  "  But 
the  warning  was  not  heeded,  and  the  doomed  man  sprang 
on  the  parapet.  The  instant  his  head  appeared  above  the 
cotton  bales  he  fell  backwards,  with  a  bullet  hole  through 
his  brain,  tumbling  over  his  comrades  as  he  fell,  his  blood 
and  brains  bespattering  their  clothing  !  The  junior  ser 
geant  now  assumed  command  of  the  company,  and 
directed  the  men  to  load  their  muskets  and  pass  them  to 
the  right,  where  from  his  station  next  an  embrasure,  and 
without  exposing  more  than  his  right  arm  and  shoulder, 
the  pieces  were  discharged  as  fast  as  they  could  be  han 
dled.  Suddenly  the  sergeant  drops  a  musket  he  has  just 
fired,  staggers  and  clasps  his  hands  over  his  breast. 
"What's  the  matter?  Are  you  hit?"  "Yes;  but  I 
guess  it  was  only  a  spent  ball,  after  all  ;  and  yet  it  came 
with  force  enough  to  take  my  breath  away."  There  at 
his  feet  lay  a  minie-bullet,  battered  and  bruised  by  its 
progress  through  some  part  of  the  wood- work  of  the  fort. 
A  black  and  blue  spot  on  his  breast  for  many  days  after, 
attested  the  force  with  which  the  bullet  had  sped  to  its 
mark,  and  signified  that  the  "call"  was  a  pretty  loud 
one. 

But  the  second  assaulting  party  was  now  raining  bul 
lets  through  the  embrasures,  and  along  the  edge  of  the 
cotton  bales,  and  the  fire  from  within  was  renewed. 


1863.  YANKEE   BULLETS.  391 

There  was  110  need  to  take  careful  aim  ;  the  brave  rebels 
crowded  up  to  the  ditch,  as  the  first  line  had  done,  and 
almost  every  bullet  fired  by  us  found  a  death  mark. 
Shells  were  bursting  in  the  ditch,  literally  tearing  the 
poor  fellows  limb  from  limb  and  scattering  the  frag 
ments  far  and  near.  Many  tried  to  scramble  out  by 
making  a  platform  of  the  bodies  of  their  dead  comrades, 
but  few  came  out  alive,  and  those  only  to  be  a  mark  for 
our  unerring  rifles.  To  most  of  those  who  entered,  it  was 
indeed  the  "Last  Ditch." 

Our  twelve-pound  howitzer  had  ceased  firing  for  some 
time,  owing  to  a  lack  of  ammunition,  the  last  charge 
having  been  left  in  the  gun  for  the  greatest  emergency  ; 
it  came  when  half  a  dozen  of  the  bravest  of  our  foes, 
thinking  the  gun  was  silenced,  had  managed  to  scale  the 
counterscarp  and  present  themselves  at  the  embrasure. 

The  demand — "Surrender,  you  d d  Yankees  ! " — was 

all  the  gunner,  who  lay  under  the  piece  close  to  the  para 
pet,  was  waiting  for.  "Yes!  we'll  surrender  this  to 
you  ! "  was  his  reply.  The  lanyard  was  pulled,  and  when 
the  smoke  cleared  away  the  bodies  of  the  brave  rebels 
had  been  scattered  to  the  winds  !  The  gun  was  now  run 
up  into  the  embrasure  and  the  gunners  armed  themselves 
with  rifles.  Xo  second  attempt  was  made  at  that  point. 

But  a  yell  louder  than  usual  causes  us  to  glance  in  the 
direction  of  the  sound.  There,  on  the  very  angle  of  the 
bastion,  we  see  a  rebel  flag  rising  above  the  exterior  crest, 
and  soon  appears  the  head  and  shoulders  of  the  bearer  ! 
Brave  fellow  !  but  your  last  moment  is  at  hand !  A  dozen 
rifles  are  discharged,  and  with  the  flag-staff  clutched  in  a 
death-grip,  he  rolls  to  the  bottom  of  the  ditch,  riddled 
with  Yankee  bullets.  Another  tries  to  succeed  him  and 
shares  the  same  fate.  Still  others  crowd  on.  They  have 
formed  a  temporary  bridge  over  the  ditch,  and  are  mak 
ing  a  desperate  effort  to  scale  the  parapet !  A  curious 
incident  now  occurs,  which,  were  it  not  for  the  terrible 


392  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

and  deadly  work  going  on,  would  be  laughable.  Sergeant 
Dunn,  of  Company  K,  owing  to  the  excitement,  had  for 
gotten  to  withdraw  his  ramrod  when  last  he  loaded  his 
piece,  and  it  was  fired  off  with  the  charge.  On  attempt 
ing  to  reload  he  was  unable  to  ram  home  the  cartridge. 
Two  of  the  enemy  were  making  their  appearance  above 
the  crest  within  a  dozen  feet  of  him.  Clubbing  his  rifle  he 
flung  it  at  them,  but  failed  to  hit  either.  No  other  piece 
was  within  reach ;  his  comrades  were  busy  with  their 
own  work — the  enemy  were  nearly  upon  him — time  was 
precious.  Looking  hastily  about  he  espied  an  axe  ;  it 
was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  to  seize  and  swing  it 
about  his  head  and  hurl  it  at  the  approaching  foe  ;  it  hit 
and  knocked  one  down,  while  the  other  fell  at  the  same 
instant,  pierced  by  a  bullet ! 

Now  the  rebel  fire  slackens  a  little,  and  Sergeant 
Judge,  with  two  others  of  his  company,  spring  to  the 
parapet  and  open  fire  on  a  party  of  the  enemy  a  few 
yards  beyond  the  ditch  ;  the  fire  was  returned,  and  then 
the  rebels  fell  back  in  retreat.  Just  then  Judge,  looking 
down  into  the  ditch,  saw  one  of  the  enemy  with  a  rebel 
flag  wrhich  had  been  torn  from  the  staff,  in  the  act  of 
scrambling  up  the  embankment ;  covering  him  with  his 
rifle,  Judge  demanded  the  flag,  which  was  promptly  sur 
rendered.  The  enemy's  fire  being  renewed  at  that  mo 
ment,  a  bullet  passed  between  them  ;  the  ' '  reb "  slid 
back  into  the  ditch,  and  Judge  and  his  companions 
jumped  into  the  fort  with  their  prize.  After  a  few 
more  spasmodic  efforts  the  enemy's  fire  ceases  ;  soon 
we  notice  they  are  retreating,  and  the  command  is 
given  to  cease  firing.  Those  of  the  enemy  within  reach 
of  our  voices  are  ordered  to  give  themselves  up  as  prison 
ers,  and  directed  to  enter  the  fort  by  way  of  the  embra 
sures,  and  planks  are  thrown  out  to  help  them  across  the 
ditch,  those  bearing  muskets  or  side-arms  being  relieved 
of  such  as  they  stepped  inside.  One  fellow,  an  Irishman, 


1863.  GIVEN  HIS   LIFE.  393 

with  a  wounded  arm,  said,  in  a  tone  of  voice  and  with 
facial  expression  and  gestures  that  made  us  laugh  :  "  Yees 
Yankees  is  divils  !  If  yees  can't  shoot  us  yees  '11  thry  to 
break  our  necks  over  the  d — d  wires  ! "  Another,  taking 
his  pipe  from  his  pocket,  said  to  his  companions,  as  he 
reached  towards  the  fire  for  a  light:  "Bedad,  boys, 
General  Lougstreet  said  we  would  be  in  Knoxville  for 
breakfast,  this  morning  ;  and  so  some  of  us  are  ! "  When 
all  the  prisoners  able  to  do  so  had  entered  and  were  prop 
erly  disposed  of,  a  truce,  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  them 
to  care  for  the  wounded  and  bury  the  dead,  was  tend 
ered  the  enemy  and  accepted.  The  white  flag  was  to  fly 
till  noon,  and  now  we  had  time  to  look  about  ufe  and 
learn  the  extent  of  our  victory,  and  also  to  count  the 
cost. 

It  was  hardly  nine  o'clock,  and  yet  how  much  had 
been  crowded  into  those  early  hours  of  that  Sabbath 
morning  !  The  order  for  roll-call  reminded  the  sergeant 
of  the  roll-book  handed  him  early  in  the  morning  ;  on 
opening  the  book  a  line  or  two  on  the  fly-leaf  arrested 
his  attention  :  i '  Dear  Bill,  if  anything  happens  to  me 
please  write  to  my  wife."  Just  the  very  words  that  had 
been  spoken.  Then  followed  the  address.  It  was  a  sim 
ple  request,  apparently,  and  yet  those  whom  duty  called 
to  perform  such  sad  offices  for  their  departed  comrades 
know  how  hard  was  the  task  !  We  had  often  heard  of 
men  whose  premonitions  of  approaching  death  caused 
them  to  anticipate  the  sad  event,  but  this  was  the  first 
case  that  had  come  so  close  home  to  us.  Sergeant 
Thomas  Deiiham  was  a  man  we  all  loved  ;  he  had  long 
been  a  prisoner  in  the  enemy's  hands  ;  he  had  suffered 
more  than  most  of  us  for  the  cause  he  loved,  and  now  he 
had  given  his  life  that  the  nation  might  be  saved.  The 
desired  letter  was  written,  and  we  shuddered  as  we 
thought  of  the  gloom  and  despair  it  would  carry  to  the 
heart  of  the  young  wife  in  her  lonely  Northern  home. 


3D4  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November,. 

The  body  had  been  tenderly  cared  for,  and  was  soon  to 
receive  a  soldier's  burial.  But  during  war  we  play  the 
Dead  March  to  the  grave  and  a  quickstep  returning. 

Koll-call  showed  that  only  four  of  the  Highlanders  had 
been  killed  and  five  wounded.  Usually,  a  "glorious  vic 
tory  "  means  as  much  to  the  victors  in  the  way  of  suffer 
ing  and  loss,  as  to  the  vanquished  ;  in  this  case,  however, 
the  wonderful  disproportion  is  easily  accounted  for,  by 
the  fact  that  we  fought  from  behind  good  protection. 
Now,  as  our  men  are  moving  about  among  the  wounded 
enemy  and  endeavoring  to  alleviate  their  sufferings,  car 
rying  their  dead  back  to  their  lines  for  burial,  and  per 
forming  other  sad  offices  for  the  dying,  let  us,  in  the 
light  of  what  has  since  been  published,  look  at  the  battle 
from  the  standpoint  of  our  former  foes.  For  this  purpose 
we  avail  ourselves  of  the  account  given  in  an  article  by 
Major  -  General  Jones,  published  in  the  Philadelphia 
Times,  in  188-t,  and  also  of  extracts  from  Confederate 
reports  contained  in  the  histories  of  the  Twenty-First 
and  Thirty-Sixth  Massachusetts  regiments. 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d,  Longstreet  was  informed 
by  Bragg  that  he  had  been  attacked  at  Chattanooga. 
On  the  25th,  General  Ledbetter,  Bragg's  chief  engineer, 
arrived  at  Longstreet's  headquarters,  and  these  two  at 
once  made  a  survey  of  the  field.  Ledbetter  pronounced 
Fort  Sanders  assailable,  but  expressed  a  preference  for 
an  attack  against  Mabry's  Hill,  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  our  lines.  On  the  20th  Generals  Longstreet,  Ledbet 
ter  and  Jenkins,  and  Colonel  Alexander,  made  a  more 
careful  examination  of  our  lines,  and  it  was  finally 
decided  to  attack  Fort  Sanders,  as  there  was  less  inter 
vening  ground  than  at  the  other  point.  On  the  27th 
rumors  spread  through  the  Confederate  camp  of  the 
defeat  of  Bragg  at  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary 
Ridge,  and  Longstreet  realized  that  he  must  attack  with 
out  delay.  The  28th  was  the  morning  selected,  but  a 


1863.  ORDER   OF   ASSAULT.  395 

heavy  rain  on  the  night  of  the  27th,  and  a  desire  to  get 
his  troops  as  close  to  the  works  as  possible,  caused  a 
postponement.  General  McLaw  was  selected  to  make 
the  assault  with  his  division,  supported  (on  his  left?) 
by  General  Jenkins,  with  three  brigades  of  Hood's  divi 
sion.  The  assault  was  ordered  to  be  made  on  the  north 
west  bastion.  Colonel  Alexander,  Longstreet's  chief 
engineer,  thought : 

"  The  ditch  was  of  such  small  dimensions  and  of  such 

a  shape  as  to  be  no  obstacle  in  the  way  of  an  assault. 

On  one  occasion  I  took  General  Longstreet  to  a 

point  where  he  could  see  it,  and  showed  him  a  man 

crossing  the  ditch." 

Longstreet  believed,  from  what  he  could  observe,  that 
the  ditch  about  the  fort  was  very  shallow,  and  had  been 
made  ' '  more  for  the  purpose  of  getting  earth  than  for 
defence."  He  had  also  been  informed  that  dogs  were 
seen  to  pass  over  the  ditch.  (This  was  110  doubt  true, 
but  the  dogs,  and  men  too,  passed  in  and  out  fully  fifty 
yards  from  the  bastion  attacked.) 

On  the  2Sth  Longstreet  ordered  McLaw  to  "advance 
and  occupy  the  lines  now  occupied  by  the  enemy's  pick 
ets,"  which  order  was  executed  at  eleven  o'clock  that 
evening,  and  also  "to  assault  as  soon  as  the  weather 
lightens  enough  for  our  artillery  to  play  on  the  enemy's 
position."  The  assault  was  to  be  made  after  about  ten 
minutes'  firing  from  their  batteries.  General  McLaw's 
order  of  assault  was  : 

"  First :  Wofford's  Georgia,  and  Humphrey's  Mississippi,  brigades  were 
selected  to  make  the  assault,  the  first  on  the  left,  the  second  on  the  right;  this 
latter  followed  closely  by  three  regiments  of  Bryan's  brigade;  the  Sixteenth 
Georgia  to  lead  the  first,  and  the  Thirteenth  Mississippi  the  second,  assaulting 
column. 

"Second:  The  brigades  to  be  formed  for 'the  attack  in  columns  of  regi 
ments. 

"Third:  The  assault  to  be  made  with  fixed  bayonets  and  without  firing 
guns. 


396  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

"  Fourth  :  Should  be  made  against  the  northwest  angle  of  Fort  Loudon  or 
Sanders. 

"  Fifth :  The  men  should  be  urged  to  the  work  with  a  determination  to 
succeed,  and  should  rush  to  it  without  hallooing. 

"  Sixth :  The  sharpshooters  should  keep  up  a  continuous  fire  into  the 
embrasures  of  the  enemy's  works  and  along  the  fort,  so  as  to  prevent  the  use  of 
cannon,  and  distract,  if  not  prevent,  the  fire  of  all  arms." 

After  the  fort  was  taken — which  event  seemed  to  be  a 
foregone  conclusion  on  the  part  of  the  enemy — Kershaw's 
brigade  was  to  advance  on  the  right  of  the  fort,  to  attack 
the  lines  held  by  Colonel  Morrison  and  our  First  brigade, 
and  due  provision  was  made  for  the  disposition  of  troops 
in  support  of  these  movements. 

The  matter  of  providing  their  men  with  fascines  and 
scaling  ladders,  was  discussed  by  the  Confederate  leaders 
but  it  was  thought  unnecessary.  The  assault  was  ordered 
in  two  columns  because  there  was  much  felled  timber 
between  the  two  leading  brigades,  and  McLaw  i '  thought 
that  the  spirit  of  rivalry  would  urge  them  to  the  work 
with  their  accustomed  dash  and  vigor."  The  signal  for 
the  assaulting  columns  to  move  was  to  be  a  rapid  fire  of 
artillery  on  the  fort,  commencing  with  Leyden's  battery 
on  the  right,  in  front  of  Armstrong's  house.  When  the 
firing  ceased  the  assault  was  to  be  made. 

General  Jones  says:  "Just  before  the  advance  the 
weather  had  been  detestable.  On  the  28th  a  cold  wave 
swept  over  the  country,  and  the  temperature  fell  below 
the  freezing  point.  The  parapet  was  hard  frozen,  and  a 
heavy  ice  crop  was  formed  by  the  moisture  from  the  bank, 
which  prevented  the  men  from  obtaining  a  foot-hold." 

Soon  after  four  o'clock  McLaw  rode  along  the  lines, 
giving  final  instructions  and  assigning  staff  officers  to 
accompany  the  different  commands.  General  Jones  con 
tinues  :  '  'When  the  artillery  fire  ceased  the  sharpshooters 
opened  and  the  two  columns  dashed  forward  to  the 
assault.  Then  the  Federal  batteries  opened  and  swept 
the  ground  in  front.  The  abattis  did  not  retard  the 


1863.  IKON  AND   LEAD.  397 

advance  an  instant ;  it  was  torn  up  and  scattered  by  the 
living  torrent.  Many  of  the  men  were  tripped  and  fell 
over  the  wire  entanglements  which  caused  some  disturb 
ance  of  the  front  line.  They  gathered  themselves  for  an 
instant,  under  a  destructive  fire,  on  the  brink  of  a  ditch 
from  seven  to  eight  feet  deep,  twelve  feet  wide  and  sur 
mounted  on  the  further  side  by  a  parapet  from  twelve  to 
thirteen  feet  high,  making  a  distance  of  about  twenty 
feet  in  height  to  the  crest  of  the  parapet. 

"They  sprang  into  the  ditch  until  it  was  filled  with 
men,  swept  by  a  deadly  flank  fire  and  triple  charges  of  can 
ister,  and  struggled  with  all  their  might  to  mount  the 
parapet.  In  the  absence  of  scaling  ladders  the  men 
mounted  on  the  shoulders  of  their  comrades  to  the  berme 
and  parapet." 

General  Jones  states  that  a  soldier  seized  a  handful  of 
wet  clay  and  clapped  it  on  the  fuse  of  a  shell  that 
Lieutenant  Benjamin  had  rolled  over  in  the  ditch,  "in 
the  vain  hope  of  extinguishing  it,  and  held  it  there  until 
the  shell  exploded  and  tore  him  to  pieces."  "  Flesh  and 
blood  could  not  withstand  the  tempest  of  iron  and  lead 
that  swept  through  the  ditch  and  over  the  glacis. 
It  was  plainly  impracticable  to  enter  the  fort  at  that 
point.  Those  who  could  fell  back,  first  sullenly  and 
slowly  ;  then  the  column  broke  and  fell  back  in  confus 
ion.  Those  who  could  not  escape  surrendered." 

General  Jones  is  in  error  in  stating  that  our  artillery 
swept  the  ditch  at  the  point  of  attack.  It  was  the  twen 
ty-pound  shells  used  as  hand  grenades,  and  our  rifles  that 
did  the  execution  there.  He  continues: 

"Longstreet  seeing  the  repulse  of  this  first  assaulting 
party  sent  word  to  Anderson,  whose  brigade  was  march 
ing  to  the  assault,  to  halt  and  fall  back,  but  the  order  did 
not  reach  him  in  time,  and  his  men  becoming  excited  at 
witnessing  the  repulse  of  McLaw's  brigades,  pressed  on, 
and,  mistaking  the  point  of  attack  some  hundred  yards 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

or  more  to  the  north,  where  the  ditch  and  parapet  offered 
very  much  less  obstacle  to  an  assault,  dashed  at  the  bas 
tion  from  which  their  comrades  had  been  repulsed,   as 
gallantly  as  they,  and  shared  their  fate." 
In  a  foot  note  General  Jones  says  : 

"The  Seventy-Ninth  New  York  *  *  *  had  their  revenge,  if  they  wanted 
it,  at  Knoxville  for  their  reception  at  Secessionville,  S.  C.,  on  the  i6th  of  June, 
1862.  There  the  positions  were  reversed." 

In  referring  to  this  assault,  the  Southern  historian  Pol 
lard,  in  his  ' '  Third  Year  of  the  War, "  says  : 

"  In  this  terrible  ditch  the  dead  were  piled  eight  or  ten  deep.  *  *'  *  *  * 
Never,  excepting  at  Gettysburg,  was  there  in  the  history  of  the  war,  a  disaster 
adorned  with  the  glory  of  such  devout  courage,  as  Longstreet's  repulse  at  Knox 
ville." 

The  enemy's  loss  as  given  in  their  official  returns  was 
one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  officers  and  meri  killed, 
four  hundred  and  fifty-eight  wounded,  and  two  hundred 
and  twenty-six  prisoners  ;  aggregate  loss,  eight  hundred 
and  thirteen.  Besides  this  we  captured  three  battle-flags, 
and  between  five  and  six  hundred  stand  of  small  arms. 

But  the  hour  of  noon  has  arrived,  at  which  time  the 
truce  was  to  end ;  the  mournful  work  is  hardly  half 
completed  however,  and  an  extension  is  granted  till  five 
o'clock.  While  the  details  of  men  were  engaged  in  carry 
ing  off  the  dead  many  of  us  were  on  the  picket  line 
engaged  in  friendly  chats  with  the  "  Johnnies."  What 
strange  mortals  men  are  !  The  deadly  foes  of  but  an 
hour  before,  were  now  sitting  around  the  little  brush 
fires,  smoking  the  "  pipe  of  peace,"  and  chatting  together, 
as  though  we  belonged  merely  to  different  regiments  of 
the  same  army.  We  found  men  there  whom  we  had 
met  at  Bull  Run  in  '61  and  '62,  and  at  South  Mountain 
and  Antietam.  We  fought  our  battles  over  again,  shared 
the  contents  of  our  canteens  and  divided  with  them  our 
scanty  rations,  part  of  which  we  had  taken  from  the 


1 863.  'NOUGH  SAID,  YANK". 

haversacks  of  our  dead  foes,  and  of  which  we  were  only 
too  glad  to  avail  ourselves. 

' '  Why  did  you  fellows  set  up  such  a  terrible  yelling 
when  you  made  the  assault?1'  was  asked.  "Did  you 
expect  to  blow  us  out  of  the  fort  with  your  wind  ?"  After 
a  moment's  hesitation  the  reply  was  made  : 

"  Our  officers  told  us  that  the  fort  was  garrisoned  only 
by  Tennessee  Conscripts,  and  that  all  we  had  to  do  was 
to  put  on  a  bold  front,  yell  like  devils,  and  the  '  Yanks ' 
would  run !" 

"Didn't  you  know  that  the  Ninth  Corps  was  here  ?" 

"No,  we  didn't,  but  we're  going  to  try  it  again,  and 
w^hen  we  do  you  'uiis  '11  get  the  worst  of  it  !" 

' '  Well,  Johnnie,  we'll  be  ready  for  you,  sure  ;  w^e  gave 
you  a  sound  thrashing  this  time,  and  at  the  next  attempt 
we  will  so  use  you  up,  there  won't  be  a  corporal's  guard 
left !  How  did  it  happen  that  you  attacked  that  particu 
lar  part  of  the  fort  ?" 

' '  Well,  General  Longstreet  was  reported  to  have  said 
that  there  was  no  ditch  of  any  consequence  about  the 
fort,  that  he  had  seen  little  dogs  running  in  and  out,  and 
had  made  up  his  mind  that  it  wasn't  very  much  of  a  fort 
anyway.  Say  'Yanks,'  let's  agree  not  to  fire  on  each 
other's  pickets,  will  ye  ?  It  don't  do  no  kind  o'  good,  and 
only  worries  both  parties." 

"All  right,  'Johnnie,'  if  you  don't  fire  on  us  we  won't 
fire  on  you." 

"'Noughsaid,  'Yank, 'and  if  some  d— d  fool  on  one 
side  or  the  other  don't  git  scared  and  fire  his  musket  at 
the  moon  we  won't  have  any  more  trouble  on  that 
point." 

In  conversation  with  the  various  groups  of  the  enemy, 
we  found  a  number  of  men  who  claimed  to  be  New- 
Yorkers,  and  when  they  found  that  the  Highlanders 
were  from  the  same  city,  quite  an  intimacy  sprang  up. 
Several  claimed  that  they  had  been  compelled  to4  join  the 


400  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  November, 

rebel  army.  They  were  living  in  the  South  when  the 
war  broke  out,  couldn't  get  away,  and  public  opinion 
finally  drove  them  into  the  service  ;  but  they  had  had 
enough  of  it,  and  were  only  waiting  a  favorable  oppor 
tunity  of  getting  out.  We  thought  it  would  be  no  great 
infraction  of  the  rules  of  war,  to  assist  these  fellows, 
even  during  a  truce,  to  accomplish  their  laudable  purpose, 
and  after  a  short  consultation  a  plan  was  adopted.  The 
weather  was  cold  and  most  of  us  wore  our  overcoats  ;  a 
disaffected  "  reb"  would  be  surrounded  by  a  group  of  our 
men,  one  of  whom  wore  an  overcoat,  thrown  loosely  over 
his  shoulders,  wrong  side  out ;  he  would  ' '  back  up  "  to  the 
"Johnnie,"  and  in  a  moment  the  coat  was  transferred  to 
the  shoulders  of  the  "gray-back"  right  side  out;  thus 
disguised  it  was  no  very  difficult  matter,  as  the  neutral 
ground  was  covered  with  groups  of  men,  for  him  to 
slowly  wander  towards  the  fort.  The  plan  worked  well, 
and  before  the  truce  ended  half  a  dozen  or  more  had  been 
restored  to  the  protection  of  the  Old  Flag. 

But  the  hour  of  five  o'clock  is  at  hand,  and  the  best  of 
foes  must  separate  ;  each  side  retires  within  its  own  lines, 
our  pickets  occupying  the  line  from  which  they  had  been 
driven  the  night  before. 

Monday,  30/ft.  Thirteenth  day. — While  there  was  less 
firing  between  the  advance  picket  lines  after  our  compact, 
the  enemy  seemed  to  think  that  the  garrison  of  the  fort 
did  not  deserve  so  much  consideration,  for  the  bullets  flew 
over  the  parapet  and  struck  the  covers  we  had  placed  at 
the  inner  openings  of  the  embrasures,  in  about  as  lively 
a  manner  on  Monday  as  on  Saturday.  We  could  hardly 
blame  them,  however,  for  no  doubt  they  felt  very  sore  over 
their  defeat,  and  we  could  afford  to  be  magnanimous. 
Captain  Montgomery  and  the  chaplain  happened  to  be 
coming  into  the  fort  together,  when  a  bullet  whistled 
between  their  heads,  at  that  moment  not  more  than  two 
feet  apart;  as  both  turned  their  heads  their  eyes  met  for 
an  instant,  but  not  a  word  was  spoken. 


1863.  MUCH  TO  OUR  RELIEF.  401 

Tuesday,  December  1st.  Fourteenth  day. — An  alarm 
about  five  o'clock,  brought  every  man  to  his  post  in  a 
hurry,  and  we  remained  under  arms  till  daylight,  but 
there  was  no  demonstration  on  the  part  of  the  enemy. 
The  news  of  Grant's  victory  at  Chattanooga,  was 
embodied  in  a  congratulatory  address  issued  by  General 
Burnside  on  our  recent  victory.  Help  was  on  the  way 
and  would  soon  reach  us,  at  the  same  time  we 
were  urged  to  renewed  vigilance,  as  the  enemy  would 
doubtless  make  another  attempt  to  carry  the  place  before 
reenforcments  could  reach  us.  General  Potter  also 
issued  an  order  :  "  particularly  to  congratulate 

the  officers  and  soldiers  composing  the  garrison  of  Fort 
Sanders,  on  their  gallant  conduct  during  the  assault  on 
that  work  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  ult.  To  Benja 
min's  Battery,  with  such  portions  of  Buckley's  and 
Eoemer's  as  were  with  them  in  the  fort,  the  79th  regi 
ment  N.  Y.  vols.,  the  2nd  Eegt.  Mich,  vols.,  and  a 
detachment  of  the  29th  Regt.  Mass,  vols.,  is  due  the 
credit  of  repulsing  a  picked  column  of  the  enemy,  killing, 
wounding  and  taking  prisoners  therefrom,  treble  their 
own  number,  besides  capturing  three  stand  of  colors." 

About  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  it  appeared  to  us, 
from  indications  within  the  enemy's  lines,  that  they  were 
preparing  for  another  attack,  and  we  made  ready  for 
their  reception,  but  they  did  not  come.  No  rations  were 
issued  to-day  and  we  began  to  think  that  mule  steak 
might  not  taste  bad  after  all.  At  dark  many  of  us  lay 
down  decidedly  hungry.  Just  before  tattoo  we  received 
orders  to  prepare  for  an  attack  on  the  enemy's  lines  at 
three  o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  but  when  that 
hour  arrived  we  found,  much  to  our  relief,  that  the  order 
had  been  countermanded. 

Wednesday,  2nd.  Fifteenth  day. — The  enemy  are  still 
busily  engaged  pushing  forward  their  lines.  Some  of  our 
posts  are  hardly  twenty-five  yards  beyond  the  ditch.  We 

26 


402  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

can  also  see  them  hard  at  work  on  the  hill  near  the  Clin 
ton  road,  erecting  new  batteries  and  planting  guns.  Our 
artillery  sent  a  few  shells  over  there,  but  our  supply  of 
ammunition  is  so  limited  that  we  are  obliged  to  use  it 
very  sparingly.  To-day  we  received  quarter-rations  of 
bread  made  from  cob-meal,  the  corn  and  cob  being  ground 
together.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  it  was  reported 
that  the  enemy  were  moving  large  bodies  of  troops 
toward  the  east.  Our  guns  opened  fire  and  our  whole 
force  was  under  arms,  and  so  remained  all  night.  The 
weather  was  very  cold  and  we  found  it  difficult  to  keep 
comfortable. 

Thursday,  3d.  Sixteenth  day. — At  daylight  the  enemy 
appear  to  be  moving  off,  and  rumors  of  their  aban 
doning  the  siege  are  current  in  the  fort.  Our  guns  opened 
and  fired  a  few  shots.  At  nine  in  the  evening  a  rattling 
picket  firing  occurs.  We  are  all  put  under  arms  and 
remain  so  for  the  night.  Details  from  the  regiment  are 
made  to  man  the  guns,  and  one  or  two  more  light  pieces 
are  brought  into  the  fort. 

Friday,  ±th.  Seventeenth  day. — There  was  considera 
ble  firing  on  the  picket  line  before  daylight.  In  the  fore 
noon  a  wooden  mortar,  which  had  been  constructed  with 
a  view  of  shelling  the  enemy  out  of  their  rifle  pits,  was 
mounted  on  the  north  front  and  tested.  At  the  first  fire, 
with  a  light  charge  of  powder,  the  shell  dropped  inside 
our  own  lines,  exploded,  and  came  near  doing  us  consid 
erable  damage.  The  second  charge  was  heavier,  when 
the  " durned  thing"  burst  to  flinders,  but  fortunately  no 
one  was  hurt.  The  news,  apparently  authentic,  that 
General  Sherman  was  advancing  with  an  army  of  forty 
thousand  men,  and  that  his  cavalry  had  crossed  the  Ten 
nessee  river  the  day  before,  put  us  all  in  excellent  spirits. 
At  tattoo  all  was  quiet  on  the  lines,  but  we  w^ere  obliged 
to  remain  under  arms  all  night,  in  order  to  be  ready  for 
any  emergency. 


1863.  "GOOD-BYE."  403 

Saturday,  5th. — At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  our 
pickets  discover  that  the  enemy's  line  is  being  withdrawn. 
Our  men  bid  the  Johnnies  ' '  Good-bye, "  and  inquire  ' '  How 
is  Vicksburg?"  At  seven  o'clock  our  Second  brigade 
advanced  their  skirmish  line  and  found  that  the  enemy, 
during  the  night, 

"  Had  folded  their  tents,  like  the  Arabs, 
And  silently  stolen  away." 


404  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  December, 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE    EAST    TENNESSEE    CAMPAIGN     [CONTINUED]  .  — AFTER    THE 
SIEGE.  — TO  STRAWBERRY  PLAINS. 

VISITORS  at  the  Fort. — Why  Longstreet  Did  Not  Make  a  Second  Attack. — A 
Thanksgiving  Service. — General  Sherman  Visits  the  Fort. — Ordered  to  Pursue 
the  Enemy. — How  We  Ground  Corn. — Complaints  of  the  Natives. — Burnside 
Relieved. — Coffee,  Sugar  and  Soap  once  more. — Reading  Letters  while  in  Line 
of  Battle.— Elaine's  Cross  Roads.— How  a  Dinner  was  Obtained.— Rawhides 
for  Shoes. — How  a  Haggis  was  Not  Made. — The  Reenlistment  Question. — 
Build  Winter  Quarters. — Accessions  to  Our  Ranks. — Strawberry  Plains. — The 
Block  House. — Running  the  Gauntlet  for  Food  and  Water. — Retreat  toward 
Knoxville. 


I 


T  was  found  that  the  enemy  had  left  behind  their  sick 
and  wounded,  and  our  surgeons  at  once  took  charge 
of  their  hospitals.  Our  mounted  troops  were  sent  after 
the  retreating  Confederates,  and  the  Highlanders  hoped 
for  a  short  season  of  rest.  We  could  now  stand  erect  in 
the  fort  and  take  a  good  long  breath,  without  fear  of  the 
bullets.  What  a  relief  !  We  began  at  once  to  clean  up 
the  ground  and  pitch  our  tents  in  more  convenient  places. 
Quite  a  number  of  the  enemy  who  had  remained  behind 
for  that  purpose,  came  in  during  the  day  ;  they  were 
"tired  of  the  war  "—so  they  said— and  did  not  wish  to 
fight  any  longer  against  the  Union. 

The  day  before  the  enemy  left  our  front,  a  prisoner  was 
captured  by  the  pickets  and  brought  to  General  Burnside, 
and  from  him  the  General  obtained  some  interesting 
information,  which  he  related  at  a  reception  given  in  his 
honor  at  Boston,  in  January,  1864.  The  General  said : 
"I  soon  discovered  that  the  specimen  brought  in  was  a 


1863.  THE  FAMOUS  BASTION.  405 

very  bright  one.  His  intelligence  was  far  beyond  what 
I  had  ever  seen  before  in  the  ranks  of  the  southern 
army.  I  became  interested  in  his  narrative  of  the  con 
dition  of  affairs  at  the  front,  and  I  felt  that  I  would  get 
an  intelligent  answer  to  a  question  that  I  proposed  to 
ask  him,  on  a  subject  that  puzzled  me  very  much — why 
General  Longstreet  did  not  make  a  second  attack  after 
the  first  assault  on  Fort  Sanders.  It  seemed  to  me  that 
it  was  necessary  to  make  an  attack,  and  that  speedily, 
because  he  must  have  known  that  reinforcements  were 
then  approaching  us.  I  asked  this  young  rebel  why  their 
general  had  not  made  another  attack.  'Well,'  said  he, 
'  General,  I  will  tell  you  :  Our  men  just  swear  that  they 
are  never  going  into  that  slaughter-pen  again,  and 
when  they  won't  go  the  ball  won't  roll. ' ' 

On  Sunday  morning  at  eleven  o'clock,  we  attended 
divine  service,  which  partook  of  the  character  of  a 
thanksgiving.  Chaplain  Kennedy  was  eloquent,  and  we 
thought  equal  to  the  occasion.  We  certainly  all  felt  very 
thankful  at  being  relieved  from  our  embarrassing  posi 
tion.  During  the  day  General  Sherman,  who  had  left 
the  bulk  of  his  force  a  few  miles  away,  and  brought  only 
Granger's  Fourth  corps  with  him  to  Kiioxville,  visited 
the  fort  in  company  with  General  Burnside.  We  had 
not  seen  Sherman  since  the  First  Bull  Kun  campaign. 
We  had  not  forgotten  his  turning  us  out  of  the  barn  into 
the  rain,  that  his  horses  might  have  shelter  ;  but  all  old 
scores  were  wiped  out  when  we  beheld  our  deliverer,  and 
he  was  received  with  feelings  of  joy  and  gratitude.  The 
afternoon  proved  pleasant  and  large  numbers  of  citizens 
from  town  visited  the  fort.  The  point  attacked  seemed 
to  have  a  great  attraction  for  them.  They  walked  about 
the  famous  bastion,  asked  all  sorts  of  questions,  and 
listened  with  rapt  attention  to  the  somewhat  exagger 
ated  stories  told  by  some  of  the  defenders.  It  was  per 
haps  pardonable  that  the  boys  "yeasted"  their  "thrill- 


406  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

ing"  narratives.  We  all  felt  proud  of  the  part  we  had 
taken,  and  the  citizens  were  loud  in  their  praises  of  the 
Highlanders. 

At  tattoo  we  received  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  in 
light  marching  order  at  seven  o'clock  on  the  following 
(Monday)  morning.  We  were  not  to  have  much  of  a 
breathing  spell,  after  all.  We  hoped  that  the  enemy 
would  have  kept  right  on  into  Virginia  and  not  bothered 
us  any  more  during  the  winter,  but  it  is  a  rule  of  war 
fare  that  an  army  should  act  directly  opposite  to  the 
wishes  of  their  antagonists,  and  the  rebels  followed  the 
rule  to  the  very  letter.  No  doubt  General  Bumside  erred 
in  judgment  when  he  retained  only  General  Granger's 
corps  of  the  forces  which  Sherman  brought  to  our  relief. 
The  enemy  found  it  out  as  soon  as  we  did,  and  when  we 
reached  the  end  of  our  day's  march  on  the  7th,  a  point 
on  the  railroad  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Knoxville,  the 
rebels  were  reported  to  be  only  three  miles  beyond.  It  is 
true  that  we  were  "driving"  them,  but  they  did  not  run 
very  fast,  and  our  advance  troops  did  n't  seem  particu 
larly  anxious  to  hurry  them.  The  enemy  showed  fight 
whenever  they  were  pressed  too  closely,  just  as  though 
they  were  aware  of  our  inferior  numbers,  and  only 
wished  to  create  as  great  a  gap  as  possible  between 
Sherman's  army  and  our  own  before  turning  upon  us. 
At  noon  of  the  8th  we  resumed  our  march,  and  at  half- 
past  four  reached  Elaine's  cross-roads,  where  we  bivou 
acked  for  the  night.  (See  map  No.  15.)  A  brigade  of 
mounted  troops  and  a  battery  of  artillery  arrived  from 
Cumberland  Gap,  but  no  provision  train  had  as  yet  been 
started  ;  the  roads  over  the  mountains  were  in  bad  con 
dition,  and  besides  that,  the  roving  bands  of  the  enemy 
made  them  insecure. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th  we  started  at  eight  o'clock, 
and  reached  Eutledge  at  one  p.  M.  Here  we  were  obliged 
to  use  little  hand  coffee  mills  to  grind  corn,  of  which  we 


1863.  "OUR  POTS   AND  KITTLES."  407 

made  mush,  the  only  food  we  had  during  the  day. 
When  one  small  hand-mill  was  all  a  company  had  to 
depend  upon  to  grind  corn  for  twenty  or  thirty  men,  it 
may  easily  be  seen  that  the  last  man  to  obtain  the  use 
of  that  article  was  obliged  to  do  a  good  deal  of  impatient 
waiting,  and  many  of  the  men,  tired  of  waiting,  parched 
the  corn  over  the  fire,  put  it  in  their  pockets  and  ate  it 
at  their  leisure.  When  in  the  evening  the  enemy  was 
reported  to  be  at  Bean  Station,  nine  miles  beyond,  some 
one  was  funny  enough  to  suggest  that  Bean  Station 
would  be  a  pretty  good  place  for  us  to  occupy  for  a 
while  ! 

On  the  10th  those  who  had  patience  to  wait  their  turn 
had  corn  mush  for  breakfast  and  dinner.  Late  in  the 
afternoon  a  half-pound  of  flour  was  served  out  to  each 
man,  and  of  this  we  made  slap-jacks  ;  every  man  was 
his  own  cook,  and  dishes  w^ere  produced  that  would  have 
astonished  a  Delmonico.  Our  ordinary  camp  kettles  were 
too  large  in  which  to  cook  individual  rations,  and  so  we 
borrowed  cooking  utensils  from  the  natives,  and  the  fact 
that  some  of  these  were  not  returned  no  doubt  gave 
occasion  to  the  remark,  made  by  a  farmer,  who  said  : 
' '  The  rebels  took  all  our  provisions,  and  now  you  uns 
come  'long  and  take  our  pots  and  kittles  ! " 

Before  the  siege  was  raised,  General  John  G.  Foster 
had  been  ordered  to  relieve  General  Burnside  of  the  com 
mand  of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio.  He  reached  Cum 
berland  Gap  on  the  30th  of  November,  where  he  found 
General  0.  B.  Willcox  with  a  small  force  holding  that 
important  point,  and  from  which,  as  a  base  of  opera 
tions,  he  had  during  the  siege,  made  frequent  attacks 
upon  Longstreet's  lines  of  communication  with  Virginia, 
and  prevented  reinforcements  from  reaching  the  enemy 
at  Knoxville.  On  December  1st,  General  Foster  left  the 
Gap  with  all  the  force  he  could  muster  and  started  for 
Knoxville,  thus  cooperating  with  Sherman's  advance 


408  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

from  Chattanooga.  Foster  arrived  at  Knoxville  on  the 
llth,  when  Burnside  formally  turned  over  the  com 
mand  to  his  successor.  General  Burnside  left  Knoxville 
011  the  14th,  and  in  response  to  a  reception  given  him  at 
Cincinnati,  a  few  days  afterward,  very  unselfishly  gave 
the  full  credit  of  the  successful  defence  of  Knoxville  to 
his  under  officers  and  the  men  in  the  ranks.  Major  Bur- 
rage,  before  quoted,  acknowledges  the  kindness  of  these 
words,  and  declares  that  it  will  ever  be  the  pride  of  these 
officers  and  men  to  say  :  "  We  fought  with  Burnside  at 
Campbell's  Station  and  in  the  trenches  at  Knoxville." 

On  the  28th  of  January  following,  Congress  passed  a 
resolution,  which  was  approved  by  the  President,  pro 
viding  that  the  thanks  of  Congress  be,  and  they  hereby 
are,  presented  to  Major- General  Ambrose  E.  Burnside, 
and  through  him  to  the  officers  and  men  who  have 
fought  under  his  command,  for  their  gallantry,  good 
conduct  and  soldier-like  endurance. 

On  Sunday,  the  13th,  we  were  still  at  Rutledge  ;  we 
had  put  up  our  shelter-tents  and  matters  were  quiet ;  we 
enjoyed  the  usual  Sunday  morning  inspection  at  nine 
o'clock,  and  listened  to  Chaplain  Kennedy  at  eleven. 
The  long-looked-for  supply  train  arrived  in  the  after 
noon,  and  half -rations  of  coffee  and  sugar  for  five  days 
were  issued  ;  we  also  got  some  soap,  the  first  we  had 
seen  in  two  weeks,  and  which  enabled  us  to  properly 
wash  our  underclothes.  On  Monday  we  learned  that  the 
enemy  was  driving  in  our  advance  troops  from  Bean 
Station.  The  Third  brigade  was  sent  to  the  front  in  the 
afternoon,  and  we  were  ordered  to  hold  ourselves  in 
readiness  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice. 

It  was  clear  to  us  that  Longstreet  purposed  wintering 
his  troops  in  East  Tennessee  ;  he  merely  retired  far 
enough  up  the  valleys  of  the  Holston  and  French  Broad 
to  protect  himself  from  a  flank  attack  from  the  direction 
of  Cumberland  Gap,  and  held  possession  of  Rogersville, 


1863.  HOME   NEWS.  409 

Morristown  and  Bull's  Gap.  He  had  a  fertile  region 
from  which  to  draw  supplies,  and  it  would  have  been 
foolish  for  him  to  retire  to  impoverished  Virginia  unless 
compelled  to  do  so.  During  the  entire  winter  he  kept 
his  cavalry  and  part  of  his  infantry  occupied  in  threat 
ening  our  lines,  and  thereby  preventing  us  from  enjoy 
ing  the  rest  usually  accorded  an  army  during  the  winter 
season. 

On  Tuesday  morning  we  packed  up  and  the  brigade 
was  formed  in  line  of  battle.  The  enemy  were  coming, 
and  we  soon  heard  the  sound  of  the  guns.  While  stand 
ing  in  this  position,  and  expecting  every  moment  to  see 
the  enemy  appear  in  our  front,  our  mail  bag  was  opened 
and  the  letters  distributed.  Those  of  us  who  received 
letters  forgot  for  a  moment,  in  the  perusal  of  home  news, 
our  present  hardships  and  danger,  and  as  we  stood  there, 
reading  the  words  of  comfort  and  cheer  penned  by  our 
dear  ones  at  home,  the  scene  was  worthy  the  pencil  of  a 
Forbes.  We  remained  in  line  till  nine  o'clock  in  the 
evening  and  then  began  a  retrograde  march.  Our  prog 
ress  was  very  slow,  the  road  being  blocked  with  artillery 
and  baggage  wagons,  but  our  march  was  continued 
until  two  o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  the  16th,  and 
we  then  bivouacked  only  six  miles  from  our  starting  place. 
The  night  was  cold  and  rails  were  in  great  demand.  At 
daylight  we  were  up  and  in  line  again.  Reports  of  a 
skirmish  going  on  at  Strawberry  Plains  indicated  that  the 
enemy  were  trying  to  get  between  us  and  Knoxville  ;  at 
nine  o'clock  our  march  was  resumed,  and  three  in 
the  afternoon  found  us  at  a  point  near  Elaine's  Cross 
roads,  where  the  whole  division  was  drawn  up  in  line. 
Eough  barricades  were  hastily  constructed,  and  prepara 
tions  made  to  resist  the  advance  of  the  enemy  on  our  part 
of  the  line.  At  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening  we  were 
turned  out  to  dig  rifle-pits  ;  rain  began  to  fall  at  the  same 
time  which  made  it  more  unpleasant  for  us.  We  worked 


410 


SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS. 


December, 


till  near  three  o'clock  the  next  morning,  Thursday  the 
17th,  when  we  were  allowed  to  lie  down  till  daylight,  at 
which  time  firing  began  in  our  front,  and  the  engagement 
at  Strawberry  Plains  was  also  renewed.  The  rain  con 
tinued  and  we  were  soon  ankle  deep  in  mud. 

A  number  of  prisoners  were  captured  during  the  day, 


"  Want  Beefsteak  ?  Good  Gracious,  what  is  the  World  coming  to  ?  Whyr 
my  Good  Fellow,  if  you  get  Beefsteak,  how  on  earth  are  Contractors  to  live  ? 
Tell  me  that." 

and  toward  evening  it  was  reported  that  the  enemy  were 
falling  back.  The  night  proved  to  be  very  cold  and  stormy. 
A  cold  sleety  rain  fell  all  day  Friday.  The  enemy,  how 
ever,  were  quiet,  and  at  night  were  reported  to  have  left 
our  front  entirely.  But  if  the  Confederates  had  gone, 
another,  and  to  us  a  more  terrible,  enemy  was  still  pres- 


1863. 


VERY   HUNGRY.  411 


ent.  We  had  received  no  rations  at  all  on  this  day  and 
many  of  us  lay  down  at  night  very  hungry.  We  had 
been  expecting  the  arrival  of  another  supply  train,  and 
had  been  told  for  some  time  that  it  would  be  along  "  in 
a  day  or  two  "  and  Hope,  which  the  poet  tells  us  "springs 
eternal  in  the  human  breast,"  kept  our  spirits  up,  even 
while  our  stomachs,  poor  weak  members,  cried  for  bread. 

Small  foraging  parties  had  been  the  order  of  the  day— 
and  night  too — but  the  inhabitants  were  in  as  strait 
ened  circumstances  as  ourselves,  and  in  the  presence  of 
the  enemy  our  foraging  ground  was  necessarily  limited. 
One  of  our  comrades  thus  describes  his  experience  : 

"The  morning  of  the  19th  was  cold  and  frosty;  I  had 
gone  to  sleep  hungry  the  night  before,  and  now  drew  cuts 
with  my  tent-mate  to  see  who  should  go  foraging  for 
something  to  eat.  The  lot  fell  on  my  companion,  and  after 
his  departure  I  busied  myself  with  my  ordinary  duties, 
picturing  to  my  mind  meanwhile,  the  good  hearty  break 
fast—or  dinner— I  should  have  when  he  returned.  Fancy 
had  full  sway,  visions  of  home  and  the  well-laden  table 
and  of  good  square  meals  I  had  eaten  here  and  there  dur 
ing  our  term  of  service,  floated  before  my  imagination, 
but  when  these  fleeting  visions  were  dispelled  I  was  hun 
gry  still,  very  hungry. 

"At  noon  my  tent-mate  had  not  returned  and  I  could 
stand  it  no  longer,  I  must  have  something  to  eat !  Off  I 
started,  on  a  road  over  which  I  had  seen  wagons  loaded 
with  corn-stalks,  enter  camp  the  day  before.  To  my 
inquiries  at  every  house  the  same  answers  were  returned  : 
'Got  nuthiii'  for  ourselves  —  The  rebels  cleaned  us  all 
out  — 'Hain't  had  a  good  meal  in  weeks  — Stock  all 
druv  off  and  barns  emptied,  even  to  the  corn-stalks.' 
And  if  the  appearance  of  the  people  was  indicative  of 
their  true  condition,  their  replies  were  correct.  After 
walking  about  two  miles  I  was  warned  by  some  of  the 
natives  not  to  go  any  further,  as  parties  of  the  enemy  had 


412  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  December, 

been  seen  about  there  the  day  before,  and  I  was  in  danger 
of  being  *  gobbled  up.'  I  wondered  if  there  wasn't  some 
thing  to  eat  in  Richmond  !  Our  cavalry  pickets  would 
not  allow  me  to  pass  beyond  their  lines,  and  I  was  com 
pelled  to  turn  back,  discouraged  and  awfully  hungry.  As 
I  began  to  retrace  my  steps  I  noticed,  lying  in  the  road 
here  and  there,  kernels  of  corn  which  had  fallen  from 
wagons  days  before.  A  bright  idea  occurred.  I  began 
picking  up  the  kernels,  one  by  one,  and  putting  them  in 
my  overcoat  pocket  ;  soon  I  found  a  nubbin  that  had 
been  crushed  into  the  ground  by  a  wagon  wheel;  it  was 
frozen  fast,  but  I  dug  it  out  with  my  knife,  and  got 
nearly  a  handful ;  I  felt  now  like  a  prospector  hunting 
for  gold  and  finding  it.  My  heart  was  light,  for  I  knew 
that  I  should  have  something  to  eat !  By  diligent  search, 
and  picking  up  every  kernel  I  saw,  I  managed  before 
reaching  camp  to  nearly  fill  my  pocket ;  true,  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  frozen  dirt  mixed  with  the  corn,  but  that 
was  soon  washed  off,  and  after  drying  before  the  fire  I 
procured  the  little  hand  coffee  mill  and  ground  the  precious 
grain.  I  did  not  stop  to  bolt  or  sift  the  grist,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  was  enjoying  a  dish  of  mush,  seasoned  with  a 
little  salt  and  a  voracious  appetite.  A  more  savory  mess 
I  had  often  eaten  before,  and  have  since,  but  one  that 
tasted  better— Well  !" 

While  most  of  us  had  comfortable  clothing  at  this  time, 
many  of  the  men  were  badly  off  for  shoes,  and  the  Quar 
termaster,  thinking  no  doubt  that  some  covering  for  the 
feet  was  better  than  no  shoes  at  all,  kindly  sent  us  a  few 
hides  stripped  from  some  horses  or  mules  that  had  died 
of  hunger,  or  that  had  been  mercifully  killed  to  put  them 
out  of  misery.  Of  these  hides  it  was  thought  moccasins 
might  be  made,  but  whether  any  of  us  ever  put  them  to 
that  use  is  not  remembered. 

On  Sunday,  the  20th,  our  knapsacks  arrived  from 
Knoxville,  and  we  thus  obtained  a  much  needed  change 


1863.  A   PARTING   SALUTE.  413 

of  underclothes.  We  moved  our  quarters,  too,  beyond 
the  rifle  pits,  and  pitched  our  tents  in  regular  order. 
On  the  22nd  a  detachment  from  the  regiment  was  sent  as 
escort  to  the  brigade  foraging  train,  and  when  the  men 
returned,  late  in  the  afternoon,  loaded  with  good  things, 
we  enjoyed  a  feast,  the  contemplation  of  which,  while 
cooking,  was  only  surpassed  by  the  realization  a  few 
minutes  later.  The  enemy  was  reported  falling  back 
towards  Virginia,  and  we  believed  the  campaign  for  the 
season  was  over.  Christmas  arrived  but  found  us  in 
poor  shape  to  celebrate  the  day.  One  of  our  comrades 
tried  to  make  a  "haggis,"  but  the  proper  ingredients 
were  wanting  and  he  found  his  mess  more  like  thick 
broth  than  the 

"Great  chieftain  of  the  puddin  race;" 

"but  it  was  filling,"  as  he  afterwards  remarked  when 
relating  the  incident. 

New  Year's  day  of  1864  found  us  still  at  the  Cross 
Eoads,  at  which  time  the  matter  of  reenlistment  was 
agitating  the  "three  years"  regiments.  Several  regi 
ments,  who  had  a  year  or  thereabouts  to  serve,  reenlisted 
and  took  advantage  of  the  offer  of  a  thirty  days'  furlough 
which  was  granted  to  all  regiments  that  would  reenlist  in 
the  field,  and  left  us,  to  enjoy  the  brief  respite  from  the 
hardships  they  had  undergone  during  and  since  the  siege. 
As  the  Highlanders  had  only  about  four  months  to  serve 
we  determined  to  ' '  stick  it  out "  in  the  field  until  our  term 
of  service  should  expire.  We  hoped  the  war  would  be 
over  by  that  time  and  that  our  services  would  not  longer 
be  needed.  On  the  8th  we  paid  a  parting  salute  to  the 
Eighth  Michigan,  all  of  whose  members  had  reenlisted, 
and  now  started  for  home  to  enjoy  their  furlough  and  fill 
up  their  ranks.  The  following  resolutions,  duly  engrossed, 
were  presented  to  the  Highlanders  by  the  Eighth,  and 
when  the  Michiganders  moved  off  we  felt  we  were  part- 


414:  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

ing  with  a  body  of  men  than  whom  no  braver  nor  truer 
existed  in  the  service. 

"  EIGHTH  MICHIGAN  VETERAN  VOLUNTEERS, 

ELAINE'S  CROSS  ROADS,  Tenn.,  Jan.  8th,  1864. 

"Colonel  Morrison,  Officers  and  Soldiers 

of  the  Seventy -Ninth  New  York : 

"  We  part  with  you  this  cold,  bleak  January  morning, 
with  feelings  of  sadness  such  as  friends  can  only  feel 
when  parting  with  friends  whom  their  hearts  have 
learned  to  love  and  cherish. 

"Every  man  of  your  number  is  made  dearer  to  us 
when  we  call  to  mind  the  many  long  and  blood-stained 
campaigns  through  which  we  have  passed  side  by  side. 
In  all  qur  privations,  in  all  our  battles  and  in  all  our  vic 
tories,  we  have  ever  been  shoulder  to  shoulder  and  shared 
them  alike. 

''Officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Seventy-Ninth,  we  feel 
proud  that  it  has  been  our  lot  to  be  so  closely  associated 
with  men  so  generous,  so  noble  and  so  brave.  The  Nation 
delights  to  own  you  as  her  heroes,  Scotia  as  her  children, 
and  the  old  Empire  State,  too,  feels  proud  of  her  High 
landers,  and  prouder  still  will  she  be  when  historians 
write  your  true  record.  It  is  therefore  with  feelings  of 
deepest  regret  that  we  part  with  you,  and  we  as  a  regi 
ment  have 

"Resolved,  That  we  hereby  tender  to  Colonel  David 
Morrison  our  heartfelt  thanks  for  the  kind  manner  in 
which  he  has  seen  proper  to  notice  us  in  Special  Order 
No.  4,  for  conduct  while  under  his  command.  His  name 
shall  ever  live  in  our  memories. 

"Resolved,  That  we  part  with  the  Seventy-Ninth 
New  York  Highlanders,  as  brother  parteth  with  brother. " 

Signed  by  the  Committee. 

General  Grant  had  visited  Knoxville  on  the  4th,  where 


1864.  DEVIT   CHIMNEYS.  415 

he  found  General  Foster  suffering  from  an  old  wound 
received  in  the  Mexican  War.  General  Granger  was 
also  at  Kiioxville,  the  next  in  command,  and  Grant  was 
much  dissatisfied  with  his  inactivity  and  at  the  apparent 
disregard  of  his  orders  to  drive  Longstreet  out  of  East 
Tennessee.  On  visiting  the  front  at  Strawberry  Plains, 
however,  Grant  saw  that  the  condition  of  our  troops  and 
animals  would  not  warrant  an  aggressive  campaign  on 
our  part,  and,  after  leaving  general  directions  for  the 
conduct  of  operations,  made  his  way  into  Kentucky  via 
Cumberland  Gap. 

Small-pox  had  broken  out  in  Knoxville  during  the 
winter,  and,  as  a  necessary  precaution,  every  man  in  the 
regiment  was  vaccinated.  Fortunately  the  disease  did 
not  visit  our  camp.  We  now  began  to  think  of  building 
winter  quarters  again,  but  were  loth  to  begin  the  erection 
of  log  huts,  for  fear  we  would  not  remain  long  enough 
to  enjoy  them;  so  we  compromised  by  "banking  up" 
our  shelter  tents,  and  erecting  "devit"  chimneys  and 
fireplaces.  '  But  these  expedients  were  not  productive  of 
much  comfort.  The  sods  used  were  frozen,  and  when 
the  fire  thawed  them  out,  chimneys  and  fireplaces  tum 
bled  down  and  nearly  suffocated  us  with  the  smoke.  On 
the  12th  we  were  ordered  into  the  woods  for  the  purpose 
of  building  log  huts.  Now  we  thought  we  were  going 
to  stay,  and  went  about  our  work  with  right  good  will ; 
yet  there  were  not  wanting  those  who  predicted  that 
something  would  turn  up  to  prevent  our  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  our  labor.  On  this  day  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of 
flour  and  three-quarters  of  a  pound  of  bacon  were  served 
out  for  a  ration.  On  the  1-tth  we  moved  to  our  new 
camp.  It  was  half  a  mile  from  our  old  quarters,  and 
everything  had  to  be  carried  on  our  shoulders.  Those 
who  had  built  brick  chimneys  in  the  old  camp,  took  them 
down,  brick  by  brick,  and  carried  them  over  and  rebuilt 
them  in  the  new  place.  We  fondly  hoped  that  we  might 


416  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

stay  long  enough  just  to  see  how  it  would  feel  to  be  com 
fortable  for  a  while. 

On  the  following  morning,  the  15th,  rumors  of  moving 
were  flying  about  camp,  and  at  seven  in  the  evening 
orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at  ten  o'clock  on  the  following 
morning,  gave  some  a  chance  to  say  "I  told -you  so." 
When  the  time  arrived  it  found  us  in  line,  and  our  ranks 
were  somewhat  augmented  by  the  transfer  of  detach 
ments  from  the  Forty-Fifth,  Fiftieth,  and  Roundhead, 
regiments  of  Pennsylvania,  who  either  would  not  reenlist 
or  had  not  the  privilege  of  reenlisting,  while  the  bulk  of 
their  regiments  who  had  reenlisted  were  ordered  home 
on  their  furlough.  Many  of  these  men  were  Pennsyl 
vania  Dutch,  and  of  all  the  jawbreakiiig  names,  those 
that  these  Bucks  County  Dutchmen  answered  to  were 
the  worst.  But  we  soon  became  familiar  with  them, 
and  the  orderly  sergeants  were  able  to  call  them  off  as 
glibly  as  our  own  Smiths,  Browns  or  Thompsons.  Our 
contingent  proved  to  be — as  we  well  knew  before — good 
soldiers,  and  we  were  only  too  glad  of  their  company,  to 
swell  the  ranks  of  our  mere  skeleton  of  a  regiment.  We 
reached  Strawberry  Plains  at  three  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon.  The  road  was  in  a  horrible  condition,  and  our 
march,  though  short;  was  very  fatiguing. 

Sunday  the  17th  was  clear  and  cold  ;  we  pitched  our 
tents,  but  could  not  be  induced  to  follow  the  example  of 
some  other  regiments,  who  began  at  once  to  cut  down 
trees  and  build  huts.  We  proposed  to  live  it  out  in  our 
tents  for  the  balance  of  the  winter.  General  Willcox 
returned  to  duty  with  the  corps  during  the  day  and 
relieved  General  Potter  At  midnight  we  were  warned 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  daylight.  When  Monday  morn 
ing  arrived,  however,  we  did  not  move.  The  enemy  was 
reported  at  Mossy  creek,  a  short  distance  up  the  valley, 
rapidly  advancing  towards  us  and  driving  our  men  be 
fore  them.  On  Tuesday  morning  the  enemy  appeared 


1864.  RUN   THE   GAUNTLET.  417 

on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  our  men  having  retired 
to  our  side  during  the  night.  The  day  was  spent  in 
manoeuvring  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing  the 
railroad  bridge  that  spanned  the  Holston  at  this  point, 
but  all  indications  pointed  to  an  early  evacuation  of  our 
position.  On  Wednesday,  the  20th,  the  bridge  was  fixed 
for  burning,  and  the  men  packed  up,  ready  to  start  at  a 
moment's  notice.  It  looked  to  us  as  though  Longstreet 
was  about  to  begin  another  siege  of  Knoxville,  and  the 
destruction  of  the  bridge  was  determined  upon  in  order 
to  retard  his  progress. 

We  were  turned  out  at  three  o'clock  on  Thursday 
morning  and  remained  stationary  till  ten  o'clock,  when 
we  marched  half  a  mile  or  so  back  into  the  woods,  but 
were  soon  ordered  to  the  front  again,  where  we  occupied 
a  block  house,  situated  on  a  knoll  commanding  the 
bridge,  and  about  a  third  of  a  mile  distant.  The  bridge 
was  then  burning.  The  skirmish  lines  from  opposite 
sides  of  the  river  were  keeping  up  a  lively  fire,  and  when 
the  enemy  brought  his  artillery  into  position,  we  at  the 
block  house  were  treated  to  a  heavy  fire  of  shell,  which 
produced  quite  a  fever  in  the  blood  of  one  of  our  number 
at  least.  A  section  of  artillery  was  brought  up  to  the 
block  house,  and  when  the  guns  opened  the  enemy's  fire 
for  a  few  minutes  was  redoubled  ;  they  made  some  fine 
line  shots,  but  did  not  succeed  in  hitting  the  house  or 
any  of  the  men,  and  at  two  o'clock  their  guns  were  with 
drawn. 

The  river  was  our  only  source  of  water  supply,  and  it 
required  considerable  nerve  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  the 
enemy's  fire  to  obtain  it ;  many  of  the  men  did  so,  how 
ever,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  the  excitement ;  the  trees  and 
bushes  which  fringed  the  bank  protected  the  men  when 
they  got  near  enough  for  close  shooting  on  the  part  of 
the  enemy,  and  there  was  no  lack  of  water  for  all  pur 
poses.  We  noticed  some  freight  care  standing  on  the 


418  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  January, 

railroad  track,  quite  near  the  bridge,  and  when  it  was 
found  that  they  contained  carcasses  of  hogs  and  sheep 
that  had  been  intended  for  us,  the  desire  to  obtain  some 
was  too  strong  to  be  resisted,  even  had  there  been  ten 
times  the  number  of  rebels  within  short  musket  range 
of  the  coveted  articles.  A  rescuing  party  was  made  up  ; 
the  boys  laid  aside  arms  and  equipments  and  started 
with  a  shout,  scattering  as  they  ran  down  the  hill,  in 
order  to  present  as  little  mark  as  possible  to  the  rebel 
bullets,  which  flew  thick  about  them.  The  cars  were 
reached  without  any  one  being  hit,  and  although  many 
bullets  crashed  through  the  sides  of  the  cars,  the  men 
managed  to  load  themselves  with  all  they  could  carry, 
and  started  back  up  the  hill.  It  was  an  amusing  sight, 
to  see  each  man  staggering  under  the  carcass  of  a  sheep 
or  hog,  and  where  the  load  was  too  much  for  one,  two 
joined,  and  managed,  without  resting  a  moment,  to  bring 
their  prizes  safely  into  the  block  house.  The  rebel  sharp 
shooters  failed  to  hit  a  single  man  ;  and,  in  at  least  one 
case,  the  carcass  of  the  hog  saved  the  i '  carcass  "  of  its 
carrier.  We  received  the  brave  fellows — and  their  loads 
—with  open  arms,  and  were  soon  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
their  daring  enterprise. 

A  daring  feat  was  performed,  too,  by  one  of  the  enemy. 
A  flat-boat,  loaded  with  sacks  of  flour  or  meal,  had  been 
abandoned  by  our  troops,  and  lay  close  to  our  side  of  the 
river.  It  had  no  doubt  been  discovered  by  the  sharp  eyes 
of  the  "  Johnnies"  about  the  time  we  learned  the  con 
tents  of  the  cars  ;  one  of  their  number  swam  across,  and 
we  soon  saw  him  poling  the  boat  over  to  his  own  side. 
Some  of  our  crack  shots  fired  a  few  rounds,  but  with  no 
serious  intentions  of  hitting  him,  and  when  the  boat  was 
safely  over  we  cheered  his  daring  as  loudly  as  did  his 
own  comrades. 

Colonel  Morrison  had  been  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  block  house  and  of  the  troops  forming  the  rear 


1864.  WERE   THANKFUL  FOR  IT.  419 

guard  of  our  army,  and  had  taken  effective  measures  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing,  at  least  until  their  main 
body  came  up.  The  destruction  of  the  bridge  had  been 
complete,  and  with  only  one  boat  we  knew  they  could 
not  cross  men  enough  to  cause  us  any  alarm.  Orders 
were  soon  received  to  fall  back  towards  Knoxville, 
however,  and  at  three  o'clock  on  Friday  morning,  the 
22nd,  we  left  our  position  at  the  block  house,  the  High 
landers  forming  the  rear  guard.  The  roads  were  bad, 
and  at  daylight  we  had  only  traveled  four  miles.  At 
Four-mile  Creek  we  found  the  troops  drawn  up  in  line  of 
battle,  and  the  quartermasters  busy  issuing  clothing, 
gratis,  to  all  who  needed.  A  supply  had  just  been  re 
ceived,  and  more  was  on  hand  than  could  be  transported, 
so  it  was  merely  a  choice  between  destroying  it  or  giving 
it  to  the  men  ;  we  were  thankful  for  it,  nevertheless. 


420  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  January, 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CLOSE  OF  THE  EAST  TENNESSEE  CAMPAIGN.— JOURNEY   TO 
ANNAPOLIS. 

RETREAT  from  Strawberry  Plains. — A  Bold  Movement. — Erin  Station. — Rumors 
of  Re-crossing  the  Mountains. — The  Plains  Again. — "  Take  Back  Those 
Rails." — Mossy  Creek. — Miss  a  Good  Supper. — Chucky  Bend  and  Bull's  Gap. 
—  Return  to  Kentucky. — Incidents  of  the  March. — Recalling  the  Engage 
ment  at  Green  River  Bridge. — Arrival  at  Covington. — Cincinnati.—  Baltimore. 
— Annapolis. — Lieutenant-General  Grant. — Ninth  Army  Corps  Reorganized. 
— Ordered  to  Virginia. 

A  T  half -past  nine  the  enemy's  cavalry  made  their 
^~*  appearance,  and  we  continued  our  retreat.  About 
half  the  regiment  was  deployed  on  the  skirmish  line  in 
our  rear,  supported  by  the  Twenty-Ninth  Massachusetts, 
and  as  soon  as  the  enemy  came  within  range  firing  be 
gan.  We  were  ordered  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until 
the  troops  had  time  to  move  on  and  form  a  new  line,  and 
in  order  to  accomplish  this  object  a  bold  and  daring 
movement  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Morrison,  which  is 
thus  described  by  Captain  Clarke,  of  the  Twenty-Ninth 
Massachusetts,  who  was  on  staff  duty  at  the  time,  and 
observed  the  execution  : 

' '  A  movement  almost  unprecedented  in  war  was  now 
executed  by  the  rear  guard,  which  had  just  emerged 
from  a  piece  of  woods  and  was  halted  in  an  open  field 
until  the  trains  should  get  well  out  of  the  way  towards 
Knoxville.  The  enemy's  cavalry,  following  pretty  close, 
came  out  of  the  woods  and  began  to  form  to  charge  the 
rear  guard  and  roll  it  back  towards  the  defile  in  the  rear. 
Thereupon  Colonel  Morrison  ordered,  not  formation  of 


1864.  ERIN   STATION.  421 

square  and  the  waiting  for  the  cavalry,  but  that  the  two 
battalions  —  the  Twenty-Ninth  and  Seventy-Ninth  — 
should  take  arms,  form  line,  and  advance  on  the  cavalry. 
Twice  before,  at  Buena  Vista,  the  Mississippi  regiment 
and  the  Mexican  Lancers  ;  and  at  Balaklava,  the  Ninety- 
Third  and  six  Russian  squadrons  encountered  in  line,  but 
as  far  as  I  know,  never  before  did  the  infantry  line 
advance  on  the  cavalry.  I  may  speak  thus  of  this  feat 
of  arms,  because  I  was  not  in  it  and  only  saw  it. 
It  was  peculiarly  gallant,  and  showed  a  genius  for  war 
in  the  officer  who  devised  it  and  the  troops  who  dared 
it." 

As  soon  as  the  cavalry  saw  the  movement  they 
wheeled  about,  after  discharging  their  carbines  at  our 
line,  and  disappeared  in  the  woods.  But  the  enemy's 
reserves  were  being  brought  rapidly  forward,  and  we 
were  soon  obliged  to  about  face  and  continue  the  retreat. 
At  one  point  on  the  route  we  held  on  just  a  little  too  long 
for  the  safety  of  some  of  our  men,  who  were  captured. 
At  noon  we  were  relieved,  as  many  of  the  men  were  so 
exhausted  as  to  be  unable  to  keep  out  of  the  way  of  the 
rebel  advance.  At  three  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  a 
point  within  three  miles  of  Knoxville,  where  a  final 
stand  was  to  be  made.  At  eight  in  the  evening  consid 
erable  firing  took  place  between  the  pickets,  but  at  nine 
o'clock  all  was  quiet,  and  we  lay  down  to  snatch  a  few 
hours'  rest.  The  night  passed  quietly,  and  on  Saturday 
morning  our  cavalry  reported  the  enemy  falling  back 
across  the  river.  At  ten  o'clock  the  brigade  was  marched 
to  a  fine  camp  ground,  where  we  pitched  our  tents,  but 
at  midnight  we  were  ordered  to  be  ready  to  move  at  day- 
light. 

At  eight  o'clock  on  Sunday,  the  24th,  we  reached 
KnoxviUe,  through  which  we  passed,  continuing  our 
march  to  Erin  Station,  five  miles  below  the  city,  on  the 
line  of  the  railroad.  By  three  in  the  afternoon  we  were 


422  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  February, 

comfortably  installed  in  our  camp,  where  we  hoped  to 
remain  long  enough,  at  least,  to  wash  our  clothes.  On 
the  26th  General  Parke  returned  from  leave  of  absence 
and  assumed  command  of  the  corps,  General  Willcox 
being  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Second  division. 
Nothing  occurred  to  disturb  us  till  the  evening  of  the 
31st,  when  orders  were  issued  requiring  us  to  be  ready  to 
move  in  the  morning. 

At  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  February  1st  we 
crossed  the  Holston  near  Knoxville,  marched  a  short 
distance  south,  and  at  eight  o'clock  bivouacked  for  the 
night.  At  five  o'clock  on  the  following  morning  the 
reveille  called  us  up,  and  we  ascertained  that  our  forces 
which  had  been  attacked  the  evening  before,  had  beaten 
back  the  enemy,  and  our  services  would  not  be  required. 
We  returned  to  camp,  reaching  there  at  ten  o'clock. 

It  was  now  rumored  that  the  Ninth  corps  was  to  make 
another  journey  back  over  the  mountains.  Nothing 
definite,  however,  was  learned  for  some  time.  On  the 
15th,  in  the  midst  of  a  rain-storm,  we  broke  camp  and 
marched  to  the  city,  where  we  bivouacked  near  the  rail 
road  station.  We  got  a  thorough  drenching,  and  although 
the  rain  ceased  at  three  o'clock,  the  afternoon  proved 
very  cold  and  disagreeable.  At  two  o'clock  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  18th  we  were  again  on  the  road,  and  at  half- 
past  three  halted  about  two  miles  northeast  of  the  town. 
It  began  to  look  as  though  we  had  not  yet  got  through 
with  our  campaign,  for  rumors  of  the  enemy  being  near 
us  were  circulating  freely  about  camp.  At  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  20th  we  were  ordered  to  "pack 
up  and  be  ready  to  move  at  the  sound  of  the  bugle,"  but 
the  bugle  didn't  " toot "  for  a  day  or  two.  On  Sunday, 
the  21st,  a  severe  snow-storm  prevailed,  and  perhaps  the 
enemy  took  pity  on  us,  for  they  kept  quiet.  On  Tuesday 
the  weather  was  clear  and  pleasant,  and,  to  mark  the 
day  more  legibly  in  our  calendar,  full  rations  were 


1 864. 


IN   A   DRIZZLING   RAIN.  423 


issued— the  first  time  such  an  event  had  occurred  in 
about  four  months  !  We  were  ordered  "to  be  ready  to 
move  in  the  morning,  in  light  marching  order,  and  with 
sixty  rounds  of  ammunition,  twenty  in  our  haversacks. " 
At  day-break  on  Wednesday  we  marched,  and  at  four  in 
the  afternoon  reached  Strawberry  Plains,  where  we 
halted  for  the  night. 

The  next  morning,  as  some  of  us  were  in  the  act  of 
appropriating  a  few  fence-rails  with  which  to  make  a  fire, 
we  were  startled  by  the  stern  command  from  Colonel 
Morrison:  "Take  back  those  rails!"  We  wondered 
what  had  got  into  the  head  of  our  brigade  commander  ; 
but  supposed  that  pity  for  the  impoverished  inhabitants 
had  opened  the  flood-gates  of  his  sympathy,  and  led  him 
to  exercise  a  degree  of  vigilance  strongly  at  variance 
with  what  we  had  noticed  at  Bealton  in  '63  ;  but  loyal 
Tennessee  was  entitled  to  more  consideration  than  rebel 
Virginia;  only,  it  was  rather  "late  in  the  day,"  we 
thought,  to  put  on  the  screws.  Our  knapsacks  arrived 
from  Knoxville  by  rail  in  the  afternoon  ;  our  tents  were 
soon  up  and  the  men  ready  for  the  next  orders.  They 
came  on  Friday,  the  26th,— to  move  on  the  following 
morning.  Our  knapsacks  were  sent  back  to  Knoxville, 
and  at  seven  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning  we  crossed  the 
river  on  a  ponton,  marched  two  miles  and  halted  for  the 
night.  At  half -past  ten  on  Sunday  morning,  the  28th, 
we  resumed  our  march,  and  with  drums  beating  and 
colors  flying,  passed  through  New  Market  at  one  P.  M. 
Mossy  Creek  was  reached  at  four  o'clock,  where  we 
remained  for  the  night.  On  Monday  morning,  in  a 
drizzling  rain,  we  resumed  our  march  and  reached  Mor- 
ristown  at  two  P.  M.  Here  we  learned  that  the  enemy 
was  in  force  at  Bull's  Gap  and  Eussellville. 

Eain  continued  all  the  next  day,  Tuesday,  March  1st, 
and  as  many  of  us  had  neither  front  or  back  flaps  to  our 
shelter-tents,  we  found  the  cold  rain-storm  very  trouble- 


424  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  March, 

some.  On  Wednesday  morning,  at  half-past  three,  the 
reveille  roused  us  from  our  uncomfortable  slumbers.  We 
found  the  rain  had  ceased,  but  the  cold  was  more  severe 
than  we  had  experienced  for  some  time.  The  enemy 
were  now  reported  as  falling  back,  and  we  began  our 
return  march  as  soon  as  we  had  partaken  of  our  coffee, 
and  reached  Mossy  Creek  village  at  two  in  the  afternoon. 
At  midnight  we  moved  to  the  bank  of  the  creek,  where 
we  remained  till  daylight  the  next  morning,  Thursday, 
the  3d.  At  that  time  the  Twenty-Third  corps  crossed 
the  creek  and  marched  in  the  direction  of  New  Market. 
The  night  had  been  extremely  cold,  and,  notwithstand 
ing  orders  to  the  contrary,  the  fence-rails  and  loose  lum 
ber  lying  about  were  utilized  for  camp  fires  ; — probably 
Colonel  Morrison  did  not  see  this. 

On  Saturday,  the  5th,  when  our  mail  arrived,  many  of 
the  boys  received  valentines.  Some  of  these  "  Cupid's 
messengers  "  were  very  comical,  and  were  exhibited  with 
a  good  deal  of  merriment.  Others  were  of  a  more  tender 
character  and  were  jealously  guarded  from  profane  eyes. 
At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  enemy's  cavalry 
made  a  dash  on  our  lines,  which  caused  some  of  us,  who 
were  at  work  on  the  pay-rolls  at  a  farm  house  near  by, 
to  beat  a  hasty  retreat  and  lose  a  good  supper  which  had 
been  ordered  for  our  delectation.  The  enemy  were  driven 
back  later  in  the  day,  and  in  the  evening  the  regiment 
was  sent  out  to  support  the  cavalry  pickets.  The  night 
was  very  dark,  but  the  weather  was  mild,  and  the  hours 
passed  without  any  alarm,  save  an  occasional  shot  from 
the  videttes.  On  Monday,  the  7th,  at  three  in  the  after 
noon,  we  moved  camp  half  a  mile  or  so  to  the  Big 
Spring,  where  we  also  found  plenty  of  wood,  and  man 
aged  to  make  ourselves  comfortable. 

On  Saturday  morning,  the  12th,  we  were  turned  out  at 
half-past  three,  and  at  five  o'clock  marched  back  in  the 
direction  of  Morristown,  through  which  we  passed  at 


1864.  "THEIR  COUNTRY'S  SOLDIERS."  425 

110011,  and  two  miles  beyond,  on  the  Chucky  Bend  road, 
we  bivouacked.  This  marching  and  counter-marching 
caused  some  of  the  men  to  indulge  in  a  good  deal  of  hard 
swearing.  The  next  day,  Sunday,  at  four  in  the  after 
noon,  the  regiment  was  hurriedly  assembled  and  sent  out 
to  support  the  pickets,  who  had  reported  the  enemy's 
cavalry  scouting  about  the  outposts.  We  returned  to 
camp  at  half -past  five  without  any  encounter.  Monday, 
the  14th,  opened  clear  and  cold  ;  at  noon  we  were  on  the 
road,  and  at  two  P.  M.  reached  the  Bull's  Gap  and  Daii- 
dridge  cross-roads.  Here  the  regiment  was  held  in 
reserve,  while  the  Twentieth  Michigan  and  Thirty-Sixth 
Massachusetts  regiments,  with  the  cavalry,  advanced  to 
the  Bend  and  routed  the  rebel  camp  there,  capturing  one 
man  and  a  few  horses.  The  brigade  returned  to  camp 
at  six  o'clock.  On  Wednesday,  the  16th,  the  arrival  of 
the  Twenty-Third  corps  to  relieve  us  from  outpost  duty, 
renewed  the  rumor  of  our  re-crossing  the  mountains. 

When  it  became  certain  that  we  were  to  leave  Ten 
nessee,  Colonel  Morrison  detailed  Corporal  Young,  of  Com 
pany  F,  and  other  stone-cutters  belonging  to  the  regi 
ment,  for  the  purpose  of  gathering  the  bodies  of  those 
members  of  the  regiment  who  had  died  while  we  were  in 
the  State,  and  properly  interring  them  in  the  soldiers' 
cemetery  at  Knoxville.  Each  grave  was  marked  by  a 
marble  tablet,  giving  age,  company,  date  and  cause  of 
death.  A  monument  was  erected  in  the  center  of  the 
line  of  graves,  bearing  the  arms  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and,  below  the  coat  of  arms,  the  following  inscrip 
tions,  written  by  Chaplain  Kennedy,  were  cut— on  one 
side  : 

"THEIR  COUNTRY'S  SOLDIERS — LIVING,  THIS  THEIR  SIMPLE  STORY, 
BUT  DEAD,  HER  BEST  DEFENCE  AND  HER  UNDYING  GLORY." 

and  on  the  other  : 

"  BY  ALL  THE  THOUSANDS  THAT  HAVE  DIED  FOR  THEE, 
O  LOV'D  REPUBLIC,  BE  THOU  JUST  AND  FREE!" 


42()  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  March,. 

We  were  turned  out  at  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
Thursday,  the  17th,  and  at  seven  began  our  march,  reach 
ing  New  Market  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  where  we  re 
mained  for  the  night.  Strawberry  Plains  was  reached  at 
half -past  ten  the  next  morning,  and  at  five  in  the  after 
noon  we  bivouacked  within  seven  miles  of  Knoxville.  On 
Saturday  we  started  at  half -past  six  and  reached  Knoxville 
at  ten.  Our  knapsacks,  together  with  the  heavy  baggage 
and  all  the  sick,  were  sent  north  by  rail,  via  Chattanooga, 
and  the  regiment  was  then  ready  for  its  tramp  over  the 
mountains.  Lieutenant-Colonel  More  here  joined  us, 
having  been  absent  since  our  march  through  Kentucky, 
in  September. 

It  was  generally  supposed  that  the  Highlanders  left 
New  York  for  the  seat  of  war  "a  thousand  strong." 
That  at  least  was  the  "poetical"  strength  of  all  new 
regiments,  and  explains  the  title  of  the  following  verses, 
written  by  William  Hutchison,  of  Company  C,  about 
this  time.  The  poem  has  been  abridged  and  slightly 
altered,  a  liberty  we  hope  the  writer  will  excuse. 

OUR  THOUSAND— WHERE  ARE  THEY  ? 

DEDICATED  TO  THE  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS. 
I. 

Time  has  recorded  strange  events, 

Since  we,  a  thousand  strong, 
Bid  home  and  friends  a  long  good-bye, 
And  hastened  forth  to  bleed  and  die, 

Or  right  our  country's  wrongs. 

ii. 
Three  years  have  nearly  gone  since  then — 

Our  thousand  ! — where  are  they  ? 
Alas  !  go  ask  the  murm'ring  winds, 
That  requiems  sigh,  through  Southern  pines, 

O'er  mounds  of  mould'ring  clay. 

in. 

Go,  seek  Virginia's  war-worn  soil, 
And  ask  the  question  there  ; 


[864.  ''FOR  GOD   AND   MAN."  427 

And  wood,  and  plain,  and  deep  ravine, 
And  fairy  glade  of  em'rald  green, 
And  mountain,  scarr'd  and  bare, 

IV. 

Will  each  return  a  sad  response 

In  accents  plaintive,  low — 
"  Within  our  bosoms  sleep  the  brave, 
Who  gave  their  lives  their  land  to  save 

From  anarchy  and  woe." 

v. 
Here  marched  again  the  Cameron  men, 

Here  Cameron  fought  and  fell  ; 
And  gallant  Stevens  joined  the  dead, 
When,  with  their  flag  aloft,  he  led 

The  men  he  lov'd  so  well. 

VI. 

And  Maryland  will  also  tell 

How,  in  her  hour  of  dread, 
When  traitors  leagued  to  work  her  shame, 
We  to  her  rescue  promptly  came, 

Nor  grudged  our  blood  to  shed. 

VII. 

She  '11  point  to  where,  'neath  Sharpsburg's  shade, 

Antietam's  waters  glide, 
And  whisper,  "  Here  lies  many  a  heart 
That  living  bore  the  patriot's  part, 

And,  dying,  for  me  died." 

VIII. 

East,  West  and  South— where  'er  our  feet 

Stern  duty's  paths  have  press'd, 
Disease  and  war  insatiate, 
Have  hurried  to  a  soldier's  fate, 

Our  bravest  and  our  best. 

IX. 
Then,  "  Forward,  march  !  " — march,  all  that  can; 

Death  shall  not  Duty  daunt; 
The  North  is  up  for  God  and  Man 
And  Highland  names  are  in  the  van — 

McPherson,  Logan,  Grant! 

Several  regiments  of  the  corps  had  been  left  at  various 
points  in  the  mountains,  on  our  journey  over,  in  the  Fall. 


428  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  March, 

Some  had  remained  at  Cumberland  Gap  after  General 
Willcox  left  there  in  January.  All  were  now  ordered  to 
report  to  their  respective  brigades.  The  Ninth  New 
Hampshire,  with  others,  reported  on  the  18th,  and 
the  rest  were  ordered  to  join  us  at  various  points  on  our 
line  of  march.  On  Monday,  the  20th,  at  nine  o'clock,  we 
began  our  northward  journey,  and  reached  the  Clinch 
River,  opposite  the  town  of  Clinton,  at  half -past  five  in 
the  afternoon.  When  we  awoke  on  Tuesday  morning 
we  found  a  snow-storm  prevailing  and  the  weather  quite 
cold.  The  Second  division  began  crossing  the  river  at 
daylight  ;  by  noon  all  were  over,  and  at  half -past  seven 
we  arrived  within  three  miles  of  Jacksboro',  where  we 
halted  for  the  night.  The  evening  was  dark  and  cold, 
and  the  men  quite  tired  out  by  the  rough  march.  At 
six  o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  the  22nd,  we 
were  off  again,  passing  through  Jacksboro',  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountains,  at  eight.  We  halted  at  the  gap  road 
where  four  days'  rations  were  issued,  and  at  noon  were 
under  way  again. 

We  found  the  mountain  road  a  very  rough  one,  but  as 
we  were  in  light  marching  order  the  wild  scenery  was 
enjoyed  more  than  on  our  trip  over  in  the  early  fall. 
Our  route  led  us  through  Walter's  Gap,  and  at  half -past 
four  we  went  into  bivouac  twelve  miles  beyond  Jacks- 
boro'.  We  were  now  fairly  in  the  mountains,  and  found 
the  section  a  perfect  wilderness,  not  a  house  or  cultivated 
field  to  be  seen  —  nothing  but  dense  woods  surrounded 
us.  The  Elk  Eidge  road  seemed  to  have  been  laid  out 
with  a  view  of  connecting  the  various  ridges  by  a  bee 
line,  and  the  trail  —  for  it  could  not,  even  by  the  greatest 
stretch  of  courtesy,  be  called  a  road  —  led  us  a  series  of 
ups  and  downs  that  were  very  trying,  even  to  our  sea 
soned  limbs.  The  route  being  impracticable  for  wagons, 
our  supplies  were  carried  on  pack  mules,  and  the  sure 
footed  little  animals  had  a  hard  time  of  it  under  their 
heavy  loads. 


1864.  ACT   OF  VANDALISM.  429 

At  half -past  six  011  Thursday  morning  we  were  off 
again,  and  at  five  in  the  afternoon  had  marched  an  esti 
mated  distance  of  sixteen  miles.  When  we  awoke  on 
Friday  morning  we  found  that  snow  had  fallen  during 
the  night ;  as  we  began  our  march  rain  commenced  to 
fall,  and  in  a  short  time  the  road  was  deep  with  slush  ; 
we  found  the  streams  swollen  and  difficult  to  ford,  but 
trudged  along  bravely,  knowing  that  every  step  brought 
us  nearer  to  civilization.  At  ten  o'clock  we  passed  the 
boundary  line  between  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  and  at 
half -past  five  in  the  afternoon,  after  a  nineteen-mile 
march,  halted  for  the  night.  On  Saturday,  at  noon,  the 
rain,  which  had  continued  up  to  that  time,  ceased  ;  the 
afternoon  was  bright  and  clear,  and  about  the  same  dis 
tance  was  covered  as  on  Friday. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the  27th,  we 
reached  Point  Isabelle  (see  map  No.  13),  where  we  found 
a  few  troops  stationed  ;  here  we  received  another  supply 
of  rations,  and  also  witnessed  the  looting  of  a  stock  of 
sutler's  goods  contained  in  a  temporary  shanty.  The 
conduct  of  the  participants  in  this  act  of  vandalism  was 
shameful  in  the  extreme  ;  what  the  provocation  was  we 
did  not  learn,  but  the  ' '  shebang  "  was  pulled  down  over 
the  head  of  the  owner,  and  nearly  all  his  goods  confiscat 
ed.  The  Seventh  Rhode  Island  regiment,  which  had 
been  stationed  at  this  point  since  the  previous  fall,  here 
joined  our  Second  division.  The  Point  was  left  at  noon, 
and  at  six  o'clock  we  passed  through  Somerset,  camping 
for  the  night  about  a  mile  beyond  the  town. 

Monday  was  dull  and  cloudy.  Our  shoes  had  become 
sadly  demoralized  by  the  rough  march,  and  nearly  all  of 
us  were  footsore.  At  noon  we  stopped  for  dinner  at 
Cuba.  Four  log  shanties,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a 
deserted  meeting-house  formed  the  "town."  A  storm 
of  wind  and  rain  accompanied  us  for  an  hour  or  two  as 
we  resumed  our  march,  and  Company  K  came  very  near 


430  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  March, 

being  crushed  by  a  tree  which  fell  across  the  road  just 
as  the  men  were  passing  the  spot ;  this  incident,  how 
ever,  gave  a  turn  to  the  monotony  of  the  march,  and 
our  past  experience  of  falling  trees,  and  other  hair 
breadth  escapes,  were  re-hashed  for  our  entertainment. 
Hall's  Gap,  the  northern  exit  from  the  mountains,  was 
reached  at  noon  of  Tuesday,  and  here  we  had  a  most 
extensive  and  beautiful  view  of  the  country  before  us. 
The  view  to  the  northwest  showed  us  the  great  valley  of 
the  Ohio  in  the  far  distance,  while  at  our  feet  lay  that  of 
the  Kentucky  river.  Towns  and  villages  were  seen  scat 
tered  about ;  Stanford  was  just  under  the  hill,  Lancaster 
lay  due  north,  while  Nicholas ville  was  less  than  two 
days'  march  in  the  same  direction  ;  Lebanon  lay  north 
west,  about  forty  miles  away  ;  the  Blue  Grass  region  - 
the  garden  of  Kentucky  —  was  before  us. 

Shortly  after  resuming  our  march,  and  as  we  were 
crossing  the  head- waters  of  Green  river,  some  of  our 
number  who  had  been  left  behind  to  build  the  bridge, 
when  the  corps  started  on  the  Mississippi  campaign, 
recalled  the  circumstances  attending  the  attack  by  Mor 
gan's  cavalry.  Brief  mention  of  the  incident  has  been 
made  on  page  287,  but  the  importance  of  the  affair,  espec 
ially  as  it  was  the  only  instance  where  any  of  the  High 
landers  were  actively  engaged  with  the  enemy  in  Ken 
tucky,  a  more  detailed  account  would  seem  necessary. 

When  the  corps  left  Kentucky,  Colonel  0.  H.  Moore,  of 
the  Twenty-Fifth  Michigan,  with  about  two  hundred 
men  from  his  own  regiment,  was  sent  to  protect  our 
bridge  builders.  Morgan,  soon  after,  raided  a  large  portion 
of  the  State,  and  just  at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the 
4th  of  July,  appeared  at  Green  river  bridge  and  demanded 
the  surrender  of  the  small  force.  Anticipating  the  call, 
our  men  were  prepared  ;  the  position  occupied  was  a 
strong  one,  and  had  been  rendered  doubly  secure  by 
felled  trees  in  their  front  and  on  the  flanks,  their  rear 
was  protected  by  the  high  bluffs  on  the  river. 


,864.  " HEN-FRUIT"  DINNER.  431 

To  Morgan's  demand  Colonel  Moore  replied :  that  the 
4th  of  July  was  not  a  proper  time  for  him  to  entertain 
such  a  proposition.  Morgan  then  assaulted,  and  for 
three  hours  a  spirited  engagement  was  fought ;  at  times 
the  rude  breastwork  of  logs  alone  separated  the  combat- 
tants  ;  it  was  a  hand-to-hand  encounter,  but  the  enemy 
were  finally  driven  off  and  compelled  to  retire,  with  a 
loss  of  over  fifty  killed  and  two  hundred  wounded. 
Among  the  killed  were  one  colonel,  two  majors,  five  cap 
tains  and  six  lieutenants.  Colonel  Moore's  loss  was  only 
six  killed  and  twenty-three  wounded.  The  enemy 
requested  permission  to  bury  their  dead,  which  was 
granted.  In  this  engagement,  fought  against  a  force 
which  outnumbered  the  Michiganders  and  Highlanders,  as 
ten  to  one,  the  men  of  the  Seventy-Ninth  behaved  with 
their  accustomed  coolness  and  bravery,  and  were  highly 
complimented  by  the  commanding  officer.  They  were 
not  again  molested,  but  finished  their  work,  and  joined 
the  regiment  on  the  eve  of  the  battle  of  Blue  Springs,  in 
October. 

When  within  two  miles  of  Stanford  we  stopped  for 
dinner,  and  a  storm,  which  proved  to  be  a  severe  one, 
kept  us  in  our  bivouac  till  six  o'clock  on  Wednesday 
morning.  We  passed  through  Stanford  at  eight,  and 
found  it  to  be  a  pretty  village,  containing  lots  of  hand 
some  girls  —  quite  an  interesting  sight  to  us  after  so  long 
a  sojourn  in  the  wilderness.  Snow  began  falling  at  day 
light  and  continued  until  we  reached  Lancaster,  at  noon. 
Here  we  dined  on  eggs,  principally  ;  they  seemed  to  be 
very  plenty,  and  shortly  after  we  halted  every  other 
man,  almost,  had  from  one  to  two  dozen,  carrying  them 
in  his  cap  to  our  bivouac,  where  they  were  soon  boiling 
in  our  quart -cups  or  frying  in  the  pans.  We  had  eggs 
boiled  and  eggs  roasted,  eggs  fried  and  eggs  toasted  —in 
short,  a  regular  "hen-fruit"  dinner,  and  when  we  resumed 
our  march,  at  two  o'clock,  we  felt  in  better  condition 


432  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  April, 

than  at  any  other  time  for  months.  Five  o'clock  found 
us  halted  within  a  mile  of  Camp  Dick  Kobinson,  a  point 
we  had  passed  on  our  southward  march  on  the  27th  of 
the  previous  August.  Fried  eggs  and  bacon,  washed 
down  with  plenty  of  good  coffee  and  milk,  prepared  us 
to  enjoy  a  sound  sleep,  to  which  we  betook  ourselves 
shortly  afterwards.  At  eight  o'clock  on  Thursday,  the 
31st,  we  passed  through  Camp  "Dick,"  and  at  ten  crossed 
the  Kentucky  river  at  Hickman's  Bridge  ;  Camp  Nelson 
was  reached  at  noon,  and  at  one  p.  M.  we  halted  near 
our  old  camp  ground,  within  three  miles  of  Mcholas- 
ville.  Here  clothing  and  shoes  were  issued,  and  we 
were  soon  arrayed  in  a  fitting  manner  for  our  further 
journey. 

On  Friday,  April  1st,  we  marched  to  the  railroad  sta 
tion  at  Nicholasville,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  were  packed 
into  a  train  of  freight  cars  which  soon  started.  We 
passed  through  Lexington  at  one  P.  M.,  and  reached 
Covington  at  midnight.  The  regiment  marched  to  the 
barracks,  but  the  temptation  to  visit  Cincinnati  was  too 
strong  for  many  of  the  weak-minded  ones,  and  a  large 
delegation  made  their  way  over  the  river,  where  they  no 
doubt  enjoyed  themselves  after  their  own  fashion  and  to 
their  heart's  content. 

Learning,  on  Saturday  morning,  that  the  regiment 
would  likely  remain  at  the  barracks  till  Sunday,  a  party 
was  made  up,  late  in  the  afternoon,  to  visit  the  city  and 
attend  the  theatre  in  the  evening.  Proctor,  in  the  title- 
role  of  the  "  Jibbenainossay "  or  "Nick  of  the  Woods," 
was  billed  for  that  evening's  performance,  and  the  trip 
is  thus  described  by  one  of  the  party  : 

"  We  thought  it  would  be  a  rare  treat  to  put  up  at  a 
hotel  for  the  night,  enjoy  a  sound  sleep  on  a  soft  bed, 
and  have  a  good  breakfast,  before  returning  to  camp  in 
the  morning.  To  this  end  we  repaired  to  the  hotel,  paid  a 
dollar  and  a  half  each  for  our  double-bedded  room— there 


1 864.  THE   SOFT   BEDS.  433 

were  four  of  us  in  the  party — and  then  went  to  the  thea 
tre.  We  enjoyed  the  play,  and,  after  partaking  of  a 
good  oyster-supper,  returned  to  the  hotel  and  retired, 
anticipating  a  good  night's  sleep  on  the  feather  beds. 
After  criticising  the  play,  and  eating  over  again  in 
imagination  the  good  supper  we  had  enjoyed,  and  con 
trasting  our  nice,  comfortable  beds  with  the  places  we 
had  been  obliged  to  sleep  in  during  our  late  campaign, 
we  turned  over  and  tried  to  sleep.  After  remaining  quiet 
for  perhaps  half  an  hour,  I  noticed  my  bed-fellow  becom 
ing  very  restless,  apparently  trying  to  attain  a  comforta 
ble  position.  'Come,  John!'  I  exclaimed,  'why  don't 
you  lie  still  and  go  to  sleep  ? '  '  Why  do  n't  you  go  to 
sleep  yourself  '{ '  was  the  response.  Then  we  heard  about 
the  same  conversation  from  the  other  bed,  and  soon  our 
companions  were  heard  tumbling  out  and  lying  down  on 
the  floor,  declaring  they  '  could  n't  sleep  on  that  bed  ;  it 's 
too  soft ! '  We  chaffed  each  other  a  good  deal  about  our 
adventure,  but  decided  that  rather  than  pay  for  beds  in 
the  hotel  and  then  of  our  own  accord  lie  on  the  floor, 
we  had  better  go  back  to  the  barracks  and  lie  in  our 
bunks.  '  Yes,  but  we  have  paid  for  our  breakfast,  too  ; 
we  don't  want  to  lose  that,'  said  one.  'Nevermind; 
let 's  go  back,'  rejoined  another.  So  we  got  up,  dressed, 
and  sneaked  down  stairs,  as  though  we  had  been  trying 
to  'jump'  our  board  bill.  The  night-clerk  sat  dozing  in 
his  chair.  We  felt  too  sheepish  to  acknowledge  the  truth 
to  him,  and  simply  inquiring  at  what  hour  breakfast 
would  be  ready,  we  started  for  the  ferry  and  managed  to 
catch  the  last  boat  over  to  Covington.  In  less  than  five 
minutes  after  stretching  ourselves  in  our  bunks  we  were 
sound  asleep.  We  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  go 
back  to  the  h,otel  after  our  breakfast. 

"  Fifteen  years  afterwards  I  met  my  bed-fellow  of  that 
night,  at  the  breakfast  table  of  a  hotel,  but  neither  of  us 
complained  of  our  inability  to  enjoy  the  soft  beds.  The 

28 


434  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  April, 

circumstance  narrated  above  was  recalled  and  we  '  smiled ' 
together  over  the  days  of  long  ago." 

At  eight  in  the  morning  the  regiment  crossed  over  to 
the  city,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  we  were  on  board  the  cars, 
bound  East.  Columbus  was  reached  at  seven  in  the 
evening,  and,  marching  to  the  Soldiers'  Home,  we  partook 
of  a  very  indifferent  supper.  We  may  have  become  too 
critical  since  our  release  from  the  short  commons  of  Ten 
nessee,  for  we  thought  that  poor  coffee,  dry  bread  and 
cold  potatoes,  were  hardly  up  to  what  might  have  been 
expected  at  the  capital  of  Ohio.  At  Steubenville  we 
were  generously  treated;  cakes,  pies,  sausages  and  excel 
lent  coffee,  made  the  boys  feel  kindly  towards  the  people. 
At  midnight  we  reached  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  and 
enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  the  Union  Subsistence  Com 
mittee,  and  before  leaving  were  supplied  with  three  days' 
rations  of  biscuit,  cheese  and  smoked  beef  !  How  we 
would  have  liked  to  spend  the  remainder  of  our  time  at 
Pittsburgh  !  The  train  rolled  out  of  the  depot  at  five 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  and  at  ten  o'clock  we 
were  entering  the  Alleghany  mountains.  As  we  reached 
the  summit  snow  began  to  fall.  Altoona  was  passed 
at  noon,  the  lights  of  Harrisburg  were  seen  at  seven 
in  the  evening,  and  at  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  6th  we  arrived  at  Baltimore.  We  liked  our  break 
fast  so  well,  at  the  rooms  of  the  Union  Relief  Association, 
that  we  remained  for  dinner,  and  did  not  leave  the  monu 
mental  city  till  five  in  the  afternoon.  At  ten  o'clock  in 
the  evening  we  reached  Annapolis,  remaining  all  night 
in  the  cars,  and  at  seven  the  next  morning  marched  to 
our  camp  ground.  We  found  the  Eighth  Michigan,  re 
turned  from  their  thirty  days'  furlough,  waiting  to  receive 
us,  and  our  arms  were  hardly  stacked  before  they  charged 
on  our  position  with  kettles  of  hot  coffee.  The  old  " '  vets  " 
had  brought  plenty  of  new  material  in  their  ranks,  and 
the  regiment  presented  a  fine  appearance. 


1864. 


435 


It  will  be  remembered,  that  on  February  20th,  Congress 
passed  the  bill  reviving  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general, 
for  the  express  purpose  of  conferring  that  rank  on  Gen 
eral  Grant,  and  placing  him  in  command  of  all  the  armies 
of  the  Union.  The  bill  was  not  so  worded,  of  course,  the 
President  being  empowered  "to  appoint,  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  a  commander  of 
the  army,  to  be  selected  during  the  war,  from  among 
those  officers  in  the  military  service  of  the  United  States, 
not  below  the  grade  of  major-general,  most  distinguished 
for  courage,  skill,  and  ability  ;  and  who  being  commis 
sioned  as  lieutenant-general,  shall  be  authorized,  under 
the  direction  of  the  President,  to  command  the  armies  of 
the  United  States."  Washington  was  the  only  one  who 
had  ever  been  raised  to  that  rank,  which  he  held  for  a 
year  only.  In  1855  it  had  been  conferred  by  brevet  on 
General  Scott. 

On  March  9th,  General  Grant,  who  had  been  sum 
moned  to  Washington,  was  presented  with  his  Lieu 
tenant-General's  commission  by  the  President,  who 
accompanied  the  presentation  with  these  words  *: — "  Gen 
eral  Grant:  the  Nation's  appreciation  of  what  you  have 
done,  and  its  reliance  upon  you  for  what  remains  to  be 
done,  in  the  existing  great  struggle,  are  now  presented, 
with  this  commission  constituting  you  Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral  in  the  Army  of  the  United  States.  With  this  high 
honor,  devolves  upon  you,  also,  a  corresponding  respon 
sibility.  As  the  Country  herein  trusts  you,  so,  under 
God,  it  will  sustain  you.  I  scarcely  need  to  add, 
that,  with  what  I  here  speak  for  the  Nation,  goes  my 
own  hearty  personal  concurrence." 

Grant's  reply  was  brief  :— "  Mr.  President :  I  accept  the 
commission,  with  gratitude  for  the  high  honor  conferred. 
With  the  aid  of  the  noble  armies  that  have  fought  in  so 
many  fields  for  our  common  Country,  it  w^ill  be  my 
earnest  endeavor  not  to  disappoint  your  expectations. 


4-36  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  April, 

I  feel  the  full  weight  of  the  responsibilities  now  devolv 
ing  on  me  ;  and  I  know  that  if  they  are  met,  it  will  be 
due  to  those  armies,  and  above  all,  to  the  favor  of  that 
Providence  which  leads  both  nations  and  men." 

The  following  day  Grant  visited  General  Meade,  the 
commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  whom  he 
received  a  cordial  greeting.  Meade,  in  order  to  relieve 
Grant  from  any  embarrassment,  in  case  he  wished  to 
place  any  other  General  in  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  assured  the  Lieutenant- General  that  he 
(Meade),  was  willing  to  serve  in  any  .capacity  in  which 
he  might  be  placed.  On  the  1 2th,  Grant,  by  orders  from 
the  War  Department,  was  formally  placed  in  command 
of  all  the  armies,  and  on  the  17th  he  assumed  command 
in  general  orders.  After  a  flying  visit  to  his  old  com 
mand,  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  now 
transferred  to  Sherman,  Grant  returned  to  Washington, 
and  on  the  26th  established  his  headquarters  in  the  field 
at  Culpeper  Court  House,  where  he  began  at  once  to  pre 
pare  for  the  Spring  campaign.  Grant  purposed  remain 
ing  with"  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  leaving  his  chief 
lieutenant  and  trusted  friend,  Sherman,  to  carry  out  his 
orders  in  the  West. 

General  Burnside  had  been  re-appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  Ninth  corps  early  in  January,  and  ordered 
to  fill  up  its  ranks,  and  be  in  readinesss  for  such  service 
as  might  be  required  when  Spring  opened. 

On  Saturday,  the  9th  (April),  General  Burnside  rode 
through  our  camps,  and  received  a  cordial  greeting  from 
the  Highlanders.  We  found  that  all  the  regiments  of  the 
corps  who  had  reeiilisted  had  returned  from  their  vacation, 
and  also  that  a  large  number  of  new  regiments  had  been 
added,  and  the  work  of  organizing  into  brigades  and 
divisions  was  being  rapidly  pushed.  The  old  regiments 
were  distributed  in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave  at  least 
one  in  each  of  the  new  brigades,  and  we  were  sorry  to 


i864. 


READY    TO   MARCH.  437 


see    some  who   had  served  with  us  assigned  to  other 
divisions. 

On  the  llth  "A"  tents  were  furnished  us,  and  for  the 
first  time  in  about  a  year  we  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  occu 
pying  tents  in  which  we  could  stand  upright.  On  the 
18th  Lieu  tenant -General  Grant,  accompanied  by  Generals 
Bumside  and  Meade,  reviewed  the  corps.  This  was  the 
first  time  that  many  of  us  had  seen  General  Grant,  and 
his  appearance  in  connection  with  General  Meade  looked 
very  much  as  though  we  were  to  spend  the  last  few  days 
of  our  term  of  service  with  the  old  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
We  had  fondly  hoped  we  would  not  see  Virginia  again 
during  the  war,  but  if  such  was  to  be  our  fate  we  would 
do  our  best  and  close  our  term  with  flying  colors. 
Annapolis  had  been  the  rendezvous  of  several  expeditions, 
and  it  was  generally  understood  that  Bumside  was  to 
lead  another  army  somewhere  down  the  Atlantic  coast. 
Bumside  himself  was  ignorant  of  the  destination  of  his 
command  until  a  clay  or  two  before  we  started.  General 
Grant  kept  his  own  counsel,  and  not  even  the  President 
or  Secretary  of  War  knew,  "up  to  the  last  moment," 
what  purpose  Grant  had  in  view  respecting  the  Ninth 
corps.  On  Thursday,  the  21st,  we  received  orders  to  be 
ready  to  move  on  Saturday.  Our  k  'A"  tents  were  at  once 
struck  and  carted  off  and  our  "  shelters"  put  up  in  their 
places,  and  on  Friday  evening  we  were  warned  to  be 
ready  to  march  at  seven  o'clock  on  the  following  morning. 

The  corps  numbered  23,000  and  was  composed  of  four 
divisions,  commanded  respectively  by  Brigadier-Generals 
Thomas  G.  Stevenson,  Robert  B.  Potter,  Orlando  B. 
Willcox,  and  Edward  Ferrero.  Besides  two  batteries  of 
artillery  assigned  to  each  division,  there  was  a  reserve 
of  seven  batteries.  Three  regiments  of  cavalry  were 
attached -to  the  corps,  as  was  also  a  provisional  brigade 
of  one  dismounted  cavalry  regiment  and  two  regiments 
of  heavy  artillery.  Ferrero's  division  was  composed 
exclusively  of  colored  troops. 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  April, 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE   WILDERNESS. 

OUR  New  Brigade  and  Division. — The  March  to  Washington. — Reviewed  by 
President  Lincoln. — Arrive  at  Alexandria. — Fairfax  Court  House. — Centre- 
ville.— Bristoe  Station. — Old  Memories  Revived.— Warrenton  Junction.— 
Confidence  in  General  Grant. — Sixtieth  Ohio  and  Highlanders  Detached. — 
The  Sand-Storm. — General  Grant's  Plan. — Cross  the  Rappahannock. — The 
Rapidan. — The  Enemy. — The  Union  Army  in  the  Wilderness. — Movements 
There. — At  Meade's  Headquarters. — Hancock  on  the  Brock  Road. — Lea- 
sure's  Brigade. — Burnside's  Patriotism. — Character  of  the  Battle-Field. — Grant 
Satisfied. — Our  Position  on  the  Night  of  the  yth. — The  "  Rebel  Yell." — A 
Volunteer  Wanted. — An  Adventure  in  The  Wilderness. 

C  ATURDAY,  the  23d,  opened  clear  and  pleasant,  and 
^  at  eleven  o'clock  the  Highlanders,  forming  a  part  of 
the  Second  brigade,  Third  division,  started  on  the  march 
in  rear  of  the  column.  The  brigade  consisted  of  the  First 
Michigan  Sharpshooters,  Twentieth  Michigan,  Fiftieth 
Pennsylvania,  Sixtieth  Ohio,  and  Seventy-Ninth  New 
York,  and  was  under  command  of  the  senior  colonel, 
Benjamin  C.  Christ,  of  the  Fiftieth.  The  day  was  warm 
and  the  delays  on  the  road  long  and  frequent.  We  were 
going  in  the  direction  of  Washington,  and  there  was 
little  doubt  in  our  minds  but  that  Virginia  was  to  be  our 
destination.  After  a  twelve-mile  march  we  halted  for 
the  night.  On  Sunday  we  marched  nineteen  miles.  At 
six  o'clock  on  Monday  morning  we  were  off  again.  Rain 
had  fallen  during  the  night,  rendering  the  road  muddy 
and  the  streams  high.  While  crossing  a  stream  about 
knee-deep,  the  drummer  boys  thought  it  was  about  time 
to  have  some  fun,  and  the  fat  doctor  was  selected  as  the 


OLD   LANDMARKS.  439 

victim.  Just  what  the  boys  did  to  the  doctor's  horse  was 
not  discovered,  but  the  animal  was  made  to  cut  up  such 
antics  while  in  mid-stream  that  the  disciple  of  Escula- 
pius  was  obliged  to  dismount  and  wade  through  the 
water,  leading  his  horse  by  the  bridle. 

We  reached  the  outskirts  of  the  Capital  at  noon,  and 
halted  for  an  hour  in  order  that  we  might  brush  up  our 
shoes  and  clothing  before  passing  through  the  city.  The 
corps  was  to  be  reviewed  by  the  President,  and  it  was 
necessary  that  we  should  present  as  neat  an  appearance  as 
possible.  President  Lincoln  and  suite  occupied  the  balcony 
of  Willard's  hotel,  and  as  we  saw  him,  surrounded  by 
members  of  his  cabinet,  and  generals  resplendent  in  glit 
tering  uniforms,  the  tall,  plain,  sad-looking  man  was,  in 
our  eyes,  the  "noblest  Roman  of  them  all."  This  was 
the  last  glimpse  that  many  of  us  ever  had  of  Abraham 
Lincoln.  When  the  terrible  news  of  his  assassination 
reached  us  011  that  Aprilmorning,  a  year  later,  our  minds 
reverted  to  the  time  when  last  we  looked  upon  his  kindly, 
melancholy  face,  as  he  watched  us  march  by  to  join  the 
Grand  Army. 

We  marched  through  the  city  and  crossed  the  Potomac 
by  the  Long  Bridge  to  Alexandria,  and  at  half-past  five 
camped  about  three  miles  beyond  the  city.  At  dress 
parade  the  next  day  we  were  ordered  to  be  ready  to  move 
on  the  following  morning  at  seven  o'clock,  and  at  that 
hour,  of  the  27th,  the  corps  began  its  march.  Our 
division  took  the  Fairfax  Court  House  road  and  reached 
that  familiar  place  at  half -past  nine  in  the  evening. 
Leaving  our  bivouac  at  seven  o'clock  the  next  morning, 
Centreville  (see  Map  No.  6)  was  reached  at  eleven, 
Manassas  Junction  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  and  early  in 
the  evening  we  went  into  bivouac  near  Bristoe  Station. 
How  disagreeably  familiar  all  these  places  were  to  the 
Highlanders  !  The  old  landmarks  were  pointed  out,  and 
many  incidents  recalled  of  our  previous  campaigns.  On 


44:0  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

Friday,  the  29th,  we  marched,  via  Catlet  Station,  to 
Warrenton  Junction,  and  pitched  our  tents  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  General  Burnside  and  staff 
passed  the  column  during  the  forenoon,  and  were  heartily, 
though  not  noisily,  welcomed  by  the  Highlanders.  While 
another  Virginia  campaign  had  no  special  charms  for  us, 
there  was  one  thing  that  pleased  us,  and  led  us  to  hope 
that  our  last  campaign  there  might,  after  all,  be  our  best. 
We  knew  that  General  Grant  was  not  only  the  Com 
manding  General  in  name  but  in  reality,  and  that  the 
officials  at  Washington,  from  the  President  down,  real 
ized  that  if  the  war  was  to  be  brought  to  a  successful 
termination  by  the  army,  that  army  must  be  under  the 
sole  direction  of  the  commander  in  the  field,  helped  and 
not  hindered  by  official  red  tape  at  the  Capital.  Know 
ing  or  believing  this,  and  having  the  utmost  confidence 
in  the  skill  and  ability  of  Grant,  we  felt  more  secure  of  a 
victorious  termination  to  this  campaign,  than  we  had 
felt  at  any  time  since  our  first,  away  back  in  'sixty-one. 
At  eleven  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning  the  Sixtieth 
Ohio  and  the  Highlanders,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Morrison,  were  detached  and  ordered  to  the  railroad  sta 
tion,  to  relieve  a  part  of  the  Fifth  corps  that  had  been 
quartered  there  all  Winter. 

Sunday,  the  first  of  May,  was  clear  and  pleasant ;  the 
usual  inspection  took  place  in  the  morning,  and  as  we 
were  now  in  the  rear  of  the  army,  our  duties  were  more 
irksome  than  dangerous.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  2nd, 
while  the  regiment  was  on  dress  parade,  there  occurred 
a  violent  storm  of  wind,  or,  as  it  was  afterwards  called,  a 
sand-storm.  While  we  stood  in  line  the  heavens  grew 
dark,  the  air  itself  seemed  black,  but  it  was  not  until  the 
storm  broke  upon  us  that  we  realized  what  the  phenome 
non  was.  As  the  dirt  and  sand,  carried  along  by  a  per 
fect  tornado,  struck  our  faces,  the  sensation  produced 
was  like  that  of  a  sand-blast  on  the  flesh,  and  we  were 


1864.  GRANT   TELLS   US.  441 

compelled  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat  to  our  tents,  many  of 
which  had  been  blown  down,  those  left  standing  being 
filled  with  sand  and  dirt  to  the  depth  of  an  inch  or  more. 
The  cooks  found  that  the  coffee  in  their  kettles  had  been 
generously  "sugared,"  and  it  took  us  a  long  time  to  get 
the  dust  and  dirt  out  of  our  hair  and  clothing.  Until  the 
next  movement  of  the  regiment,  the  wonderful  storm 
was  the  all-engrossing  subject  of  conversation. 

On  Tuesday,  the  3d,  four  days'  rations  were  issued, 
and  we  were  ordered  to  be  ready  to  move  at  seven  o'clock 
on  the  following  morning.  All  spare  baggage  was  sent 
to  the  rear.  Our  knapsacks  had  been  left  at  Alexandria, 
and  the  army  appeared  to  be  stripping  for  a  fight.  When 
Wednesday  morning  arrived  marching  orders  were  tem 
porarily  suspended  ;  our  command  was  to  remain  as  a 
rear  guard  until  everything  had  been  removed.  Bodies 
of  troops  and  wagon  trains  moved  rapidly  by  us  all  day, 
going  towards  the  Rappahannock.  Grant's  headquar 
ters  were  at  Culpeper,  and  the  movement  betokened  an 
early  encounter  with  the  enemy.  In  the  evening  a  strong 
picket  from  the  Sixtieth  Ohio  was  sent  out.  There  was 
no  enemy  to  guard  against,  but  the  new  regiment  man 
aged  to  get  up  a  scare  during  the  night,  which  brought 
U3  out  under  arms,  and  after  indulging  in  a  little  par 
donably  strong  language  at  the  greenhorns,  we  ^were 
allowed  to  lie  down  again  and  complete  our  night's  rest. 

General  Grant  tells  us  in  his  ' '  Memoirs  "  that  his  first 
object  was  to  get  possession  of  Lee's  army,  and  with  this 
end  in  view  he  purposed  going  where  that  army  was,  with 
as  large  a  force  as  he  could  gather.  Officers  and  men 
absent  on  leave  had  been  ordered  to  return  to  their  com 
mands,  and  thus  many  thousands  had  been  added  to  the 
ranks.  A  movement  by  Sherman  against  Johnston  and 
the  city  of  Atlanta,  one  by  Banks  against  Mobile,  another 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  under  Sigel,  and  in  Southeast 
ern  Virginia  Butler's  advance  towards  Richmond,  were 


442  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  Mayr 

all  ordered  to  be  made  simultaneously,  so  that  the  enemy 
might  be  kept  fully  employed  at  all  points,  and  be  pre 
vented  from  sending  reinforcements  to  overwhelm  any 
of  our  columns — movements  which  they,  with  their 
interior  lines  of  communication,  had  been  able  heretofore 
to  accomplish.  The  advantage  of  a  single  head  directing 
affairs  in  the  field  is  thus  apparent.  General  P.  H. 
Sheridan  had  been  called  from  the  West,  where  he  was 
a  division  commander  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  placed  at  the  head  of  the  cavalry  attached  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  Grant  had  all  he  asked  for,  and 
the  campaign  promised  to  be  a  brilliant  one. 

Of  his  last  interview  with  President  Lincoln  before 
starting  011  the  campaign,  General  Grant  says:  "He 
had,  of  course,  become  acquainted  with  the  fact  that  a 
general  movement  had  been  ordered  all  along  the  line, 
and  seemed  to  think  it  a  new  feature  in  war.  I  explained 
to  him  that  it  was  necessary  to  have  a  great  number  of 
troops  to  guard  and  to  hold  the  territory  we  had  captured, 
and  to  prevent  incursions  into  the  Northern  States. 
These  troops  could  perform  this  service  just  as  well  by 
advancing  as  by  remaining  still ;  and  by  advancing  they 
"would  compel  the  enemy  to  keep  detachments  to  hold 
them  back,  or  else  lay  his  own  territory  open  to  invasion. 
His  answer  was  :  '  Oh  !  yes,  I  see  that.  As  we  say  out 
West,  if  a  man  can't  skin  he  must  hold  a  leg  while  some 
body  else  does. ' ' 

After  Grant  had  issued  his  orders  for  the  grand  for 
ward  movements  he  comments  thus:  "The  Armies 
were  now  all  ready  to  move  for  the  accomplishment  of  a 
single  object.  They  were  acting  as  a  unit  so  far  as  such 
a  thing  was  possible  over  such  a  vast  field.  Lee,  with 
the  Capital  of  the  Confederacy,  was  the  main  end  to 
which  all  were  making.  Johnston,  with  Atlanta,  was 
an  important  obstacle  in  the  way  of  our  accomplishing 
the  result  aimed  at,  and  was  therefore  almost  an  hide- 


1864.  OMINOUS  SOUNDS.  443 

pendent  objective.  It  was  of  less  importance  only  because 
the  capture  of  Johnston  and  his  army  would  not  produce 
so  immediate  and  decisive  a  result  in  closing  the  rebellion 
as  would  the  possession  of  Richmond,  Lee  and  his  army. 
All  other  troops  were  employed  exclusively  in  support  of 
these  movements.  This  was  the  plan.  Soon 

after  midnight,  May  3d-4th,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
moved  out  from  its  position  north  of  the  Rapidan,  to  start 
upon  the  memorable  campaign  destined  to  result  in  the 
capture  of  the  Confederate  Capital  and  the  army  defend- 
ing  it." 

At  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Thursday  the  5th, 
Ferrero's  division  of  colored  troops  arrived  to  take  our 
places,  and  our  two  regiments  were  soon  on  the  march 
to  the  front.  Bealton,  the  scene  of  the  battle  for  the 
rails  in  December  '62,  was  reached  at  ten  o'clock,  and 
Rappaharmock  Station  at  noon.  We  remained  here  an 
hour  and  then  crossed  the  river  on  a  ponton  bridge.  As 
evening  drew  near  we  heard  what  seemed  to  be  the  sound 
of  heavy  guns  in  the  distance.  Some  were  of  the  opinion, 
however,  that  the  sound  was  caused  by  the  big  drum 
carried  at  the  head  of  the  column,  striking  on  the 
ground  as  the  tired  drummer  dragged  along  his  weary 
w^ay ;  we  were  all  anxious  enough  to  put  off  the  day 
of  battle,  and  this  explanation  of  the  ominous  sounds  was 
accepted.  We  were  now  on  the  Germania  Ford  road, 
approaching  the  Rapidan,  and  expected  to  cross  that 
stream  before  halting  for  the  night,  but  at  half -past 
eight,  after  a  long  and  tiresome  march,  we  halted  within 
a  mile  of  the  ford,  our  shelter-tents  were  soon  pitched 
and  a  very  tired  lot  of  men  lay  down  to  rest.  It  was 
estimated  that  we  had  marched  between  twenty-five  and 
thirty  miles  since  morning. 

When  the  Union  army,  nearly  120,000  strong,  began 
its  march  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  Rebel  army  of 
about  75,000  men,  occupied  a  strong  position  on  the  south 


444  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

side  of  the  Eapidan,  the  right  resting  on  Mine  Run,  a 
small  stream  which  empties  into  the  river  three  miles 
'west  of  Germania  Ford,  the  left  extending  to  the  foot 
hills  of  the  Blue  Eidge  mountains.  Long-street's  com 
mand  had  returned  from  Tennessee,  and  was  stationed 
at  Gordonsville,  about  the  centre  of  the  line  and  a  few 
miles  in  its  rear.  This  movement  of  the  Union  army 
caused  Lee  to  abandon  his  position,  but  his  knowledge  of 
the  country  through  which  his  opponents  were  advanc 
ing,  enabled  him  to  put  his  troops  in  motion  and  strike 
the  Union  army  as  soon  as  it  entered  the  Wilderness,  as 
the  region  was  called. 

Before  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  General 
Wilson,  with  a  division  of  cavalry,  crossed  at  Germania 
Ford  and  drove  the  enemy's  pickets  a  mile  or  so  back 
from  the  river.  General  Warren  with  the  Fifth  corps 
crossed  shortly  afterwards,  and  General  Sedgwick  fol 
lowed  later  in  the  day  with  the  Sixth  corps.  General 
Gregg's  cavalry  performed  advance  duty  for  General 
Hancock  and  the  Second  corps  at  Ely's  Ford,  six  miles 
below.  In  the  evening  Warren  bivouacked  near  the 
Wilderness  Tavern,  Sedgwick  was  between  him  and  the 
river,  while  Hancock  was  on  the  old  Chancellorsville  bat 
tle-ground.  Lee's  army  was  put  in  motion  as  soon  as 
possible  after  the  advance  of  Grant's  forces  was  discov 
ered,  and  at  night  Longstreet  had  begun  his  march  from 
Gordonsville.  A.  P.  Hill  was  on  the  plank  road,  while 
Ewell  was  on  the  turnpike  within  five  miles  of  Warren. 

On  the  5th,  Warren,  preceded  by  Wilson's  cavalry, 
advanced  toward's  Parker's  Store  where'  he  met  the 
enemy  early  in  the  morning  ;  two  divisions  of  the  Sixth 
corps  were  sent  to  his  support  while  Hancock  was 
re-called  from  Chancellorsville  and  ordered  to  advance  to 
Warren's  left.  Grant  established  his  headquarters  a  lit 
tle  west  of  the  Wilderness  Tavern.  Burnside  was  now 
ordered  to  hurry  forward  his  corps.  At  noon  Warren 


1864.  THE   DEAD   AND    WOUNDED.  447 

began  the  attack  and  drove  Ewell's  troops  a  mile  or  more, 
but  being  unsupported  by  the  divisions  of  the  Sixth 
corps,  was  finally  driven  back  in  turn,  after  losing  seve 
ral  guns  and  a  large  number  of  men.  At  night  his  line 
was  about  a  mile  southwest  of  Wilderness  Tavern. 
Without  waiting  for  Hancock  to  arrive,  Getty,  who  with 
his  division  of  the  Sixth  corps,  was  on  Warren's  left, 
attacked  A.  P.  Hill's  corps,  and  when  the  Second  corps 
reached  the  scene  of  action  a  severe  battle  ensued  which 
did  not  terminate  till  after  dark,  what  advantage  there 
was  being  on  the  Union  side.  %  Orders  were  issued  to 
renew  the  attack  along  the  whole  line  at  five  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  6th. 

Friday  morning  opened  clear  and  warm.  We  found 
that  Potter's  division  of  our  corps  had  crossed  the  river 
the  night  before,  and  at  six  o'clock  we  were  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river.  Artillery  firing  was  heard  at  daylight, 
and  as  we  proceeded,  the  sound  of  musketry  in  regular 
volleys,  indicated  that  the  battle  had  been  renewed.  As 
Morrison  was  moving  along  in  search  of  the  Third  divi 
sion,  an  aide  galloped  up  with  orders  for  him  to  report  to 
General  Sedgwick  on  the  right  of  the  Union  line.  Not 
knowing  the  officer  who  brought  the  order,  and  being 
then  under  orders  from  Burnside  to  join  his  own  corps, 
Morrison  hesitated,  but,  leaving  his  command,  rode  to 
Sedgwick's  headquarters,  and  found  that  the  aide  had 
made  a  mistake. 

In  order  to  make  sure,  however,  that  there  was  no 
misunderstanding,  Colonel  Morrison  was  anxious  to 
send  to  General  Meade's  headquarters,  and  as  there  was 
no  other  mounted  officer  disengaged,  Chaplain  Kennedy 
volunteered  to  carry  the  message.  His  course  led  him 
over  quite  a  stretch  of  the  battle-field,  and  along  roads, 
or  rather  trails  through  the  woods,  where  the  hostile 
lines  had  met,  and  the  dead  and  wounded  were  lying  so 
thick  in  some  places  that  the  rider  had  difficulty  in  keep- 


448  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

ing  clear  of  the  bodies.  In  telling  of  his  ride  afterwards, 
the  Chaplain  said  that  as  he  crossed  one  eminence  after 
another  and  looked  about  him,  it  seemed  like  the  day  of 
doom— 

"  Dies  irae,  dies  ilia  "- 

the  dead  and  dying  around,  and,  overhead  and  stretch 
ing  to  the  horizon,  a  dense  canopy  of  smoke,  like  a  pall, 
under  which  the  reverberations  of  the  heavy  guns  and 
the  rattle  of  musketry  betokened  the  final  dissolution. 
The  Chaplain  came  up  with  a  staff  officer  who  had  just 
left  General  Grant's  headquarters,  and  upon  inquiring 
how  the  General  looked,  was  told  that  he  was  up  yonder 
in  that  little  shanty  on  the  hill,  sitting  in  the  middle  of 
the  room  near  a  little  table,  with  a  map  spread  out  on 
the  floor,  on  which,  with  the  stub  of  a  pencil,  he  was 
making  marks  now  and  then  as  he  received  dispatches 
and  issued  his  orders.  Of  course  he  was  smoking,  as 
ucool  as  a  cucumber,"  and  as  grave  and  undisturbed  as 
a  sphinx. 

On  passing  Meade's  headquarters  near  the  Wilder 
ness  Tavern,  Morrison  was  ordered  by  that  officer  to 
remain  near  there,  ready  to  move,  however,  at  a  mo 
ment's  notice.  Meanwhile  the  battle  raged  fiercely 
along  the  entire  line;  Warren  and  Sedgwick  found  it 
difficult  to  make  headway  against  the  enemy,  who  had 
brought  up  fresh  troops  during  the  night.  Hancock 
with  the  Second  corps,  and  the  First  division  of  the  Ninth, 
and  Burnside,  with  his  Second  and  Third  divisions — less 
our  two  regiments — had  obtained  some  advantage  over 
Hill,  but  Longstreet  and  Anderson  came  up  in  time  to 
turn  the  scale,  and  then  the  enemy  took  the  offensive. 

At  one  P.  M.,  Morrison  was  sent  to  the  support  of  the 
Fifth  corps,  and  we  remained  in  rear  of  that  command 
until  Warren  recovered  some  lost  ground,  when  we  re 
turned  to  our  position  at  Meade's  headquarters.  The 
attack  on  Hancock  was  more  violent.  He  covered  the 


1864.  THE   BROCK   ROAD.  449 

Brock  road,  the  most  important  line  on  the  field,  and 
although  the  enemy  failed  to  break  through  his  lines,  he 
was  forced  back  on  the  line  of  that  road,  and  had  it  not 
been  for  the  wounding  of  Longstreet  at  a  critical  period 
of  the  engagement,  more  serious  results  to  the  Union 
army  might  have  occurred.  Hancock  had  intrenched 
his  position  when  driven  back,  and  about  the  middle  of 
the  afternoon  the  enemy  advanced  to  the  assault.  Morri 
son  was  now  sent  to  the  scene  of  conflict,  and  was  assigned 
a  position  on  the  right  of  the  turnpike-road,  where  we 
remained  as  a  support  to  the  right  of  Hancock's  line. 
The  enemy's  attack  was  fierce,  and  for  two  hours  the 
battle  raged  furiously,  but  at  dark  Hancock  still  held  the 
Brock  road,  and  the  enemy  retired.  It  is  proper  to  men 
tion  here  the  gallant  feat  performed  by  some  of  our  old 
comrades:  Colonel  Leasure  commanded  the  Second 
brigade  of  the  First  division,  consisting  of  his  own  Round 
heads,  the  Third  Maryland  and  Twenty-First  Massachu 
setts.  He  was  on  the  extreme  left  of  Hancock's  line 
when  it  was  driven  back  to  the  Brock  road  in  the  fore 
noon,  and  in  order  to  clear  his  front  Leasure  was  ordered 
to  charge  across  his  entire  front  from  left  to  right,  at 
right  angles  with  the  Union  line.  The  order  was 
promptly  and  successfully  executed,  and  reflected  great 
credit  on  the  commander,  and  the  regiments  engaged  in 
the  work. 

In  this  manner  the  whole  corps  was  divided  during  the 
battle  in  the  Wilderness  ;  it  was  not  incorporated  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  till  the  24th,  and  Burnside 
received  his  orders  direct  from  General  Grant.  As  Burn- 
side  was  an  ex-commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
perhaps  Grant  thought  it  would  be  humiliating  to  the 
former  if  placed  under  Meade  ;  but  Burnside  was  too 
much  of  a  patriot  to  allow  any  notions  of  false  pride  to 
interfere  with  the  duty  he  owed  his  country,  and  he 
served  as  faithfully  under  Meade  in  sixty-four  as  the 

29 


450  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

latter  had  served  under  Burnside  at  Fredericksburgh  in 
sixty-three. 

While  in  support  of  Hancock's  line  we  heard  the  sound  of 
battle,  hut  saw  little  of  it.  The  nature  of  the  field  was  such 
that  it  was  with,  the  utmost  difficulty  intelligent  move 
ments  could  be  made  ;  the  dense  woods  and  heavy  under 
brush  rendered  it  difficult  to  form  lines  of  battle.  General 
Badeau  says  :  ' '  But  neither  men  nor  officers  could  see 
fifty  yards  before  them.  Manoeuvring  was  impossible  ; 
skirmishing  was  the  only  tactics,  and  Wadsworth  (a 
division  commander)  was  compelled  to  direct  the  march 
of  his  troops  by  the  compass."  The  Wilderness  was 
rightly  named.  If  a  man  became  separated  from  his 
regiment  it  was  almost  impossible  for  him  to  find  it 
again,  and  stragglers  swarmed  through  the  woods  in 
all  directions. 

The  regiment  was  moved  several  times  during  the  day, 
and  whenever  a  new  line  was  formed  we  began  at  once 
to  dig  with  our  bayonets,  and  shovel  up  the  earth  with 
our  tin  plates,  for  the  purpose  of  making  temporary 
breastworks.  Whenever  the  "  rebel  yell "  was  heard  we 
would  stop  digging,  fix  bayonets,  and  prepare  for  the 
expected  assault.  A  good  deal  of  uncertainty  about  the 
result  of  the  engagement  prevailed  during  the  afternoon, 
which  was  removed  later  in  the  day,  for  about  six 
o'clock  a  staff  officer,  direct  from  Grant's  headquarters, 
reported  that  "General  Grant  is  taking  matters  very 
coolly,  and  is  quite  satisfied  with  the  result  so  far." 
This  satisfied  us,  and  as  the  cooks  came  up  at  that 
moment  with  plenty  of  hot  coffee,  we  were  soon  in  a 
very  comfortable  frame  of  mind.  We  remained  under 
arms  all  night,  but  nothing  occurred  to  disturb  us. 

Before  daylight  of  Saturday,  the  Tth,  we  were  on  the 
alert  and  ready  for  any  emergency.  A  good  breakfast 
fortified  our  stomachs,  and  the  Highlanders  were  never 
more  confident  of  victory  than  at  that  moment.  We 


1864.  "  REBEL  YELL."  451 

had  been  mercifully  spared  on  the  Gth  ;  would  we  be  as 
fortunate  to-day  ?  At  half-past  ten  we  rejoined  the 
brigade,  and  formed  line  behind  a  temporary  breastwork 
in  the  afternoon.  Nothing  of  any  importance  occurred 
in  our  immediate  front.  As  on  Friday,  we  could  hear, 
but  not  see,  a  rattling  musketry  fire  ;  that  was  all.  Ar 
tillery  firing,  on  both  our  right  and  left,  showed  that  we 
were  somewhere  near  the  center  of  the  line.  All  about 
us  the  ground  was  littered  with  knapsacks,  clothing, 
arms  and  accoutrements,  and  those  of  us  in  need  had  no 
difficulty  in  supplying  ourselves  with  a  change  of  under 
clothes.  We  were  ordered  to  strengthen  our  defences 
in  case  of  a  night  attack,  and  by  using  such  mate 
rial  as  we  found  at  hand,  trunks  of  dead  trees,  brush 
wood  and  litter,  and  digging  as  on  the  previous  day,  we 
managed  to  erect  quite  a  respectable  breastwork,  behind 
which  we  lay  and  listened  —  not  watched,  for  the  inky 
darkness  into  which  we  attempted  to  peer  was  impene 
trable. 

About  eight  o'clock,  as  we  lay  behind  this  slight  pro 
tection,  our  muskets  loaded  and  capped,  and  with  bay 
onets  fixed,  resting  on  the  top  of  our  hastily  constructed 
barricade,  our  ears  caught  the  sound  of  what  seemed  to 
be  many  voices  —  first  a  murmur,  then  a  shout,  and 
finally  an  unmistakable  "rebel  yell,"  which  extended 
for  a  considerable  distance  both  to  our  right  and  left. 
Directly  in  our  front  the  noise  seemed  to  be  about  a  hun 
dred  yards  distant.  Every  man  was  on  his  feet  in  an 
instant,  and  with  muskets  cocked  and  fingers  on  the 
triggers  we  awaited  the  expected  onset.  But  while  the 
yelling  increased,  accompanied  now  by  the  sound  of 
wood  chopping,  the  rumble  of  artillery  and  the  neighing 
of  horses,  we  could  see  nothing.  The  suspense  produced 
a  good  deal  of  nervousness  in  some  of  our  number  ;  con 
versation  was  carried  on  in  whispers,  and  the  darkness, 
110  doubt,  hid  many  pale  faces  and  screened  many  a 
trembling  hero. 


452  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

When  we  realized  that  the  enemy  was  not  making  an 
advance  we  began  to  wonder  what  he  'was  doing.  What 
"game"  was  he  up  to?  Just  then  the  brigade  com 
mander,  accompanied  by  our  Colonel  approached  the  line 
and  after  listening  a  while  the  former  said:  "Colonel, 
if  you  will  furnish  me  a  messenger  I  will  send  word  to 
division  headquarters  that  the  enemy  seem  to  be  making 
ready  for  a  demonstration  in  our  front."  Turning  to 
wards  the  men  the  Colonel  said  :  "  I  want  a  volunteer  to 
go  to  division  headquarters."  The  comrade  who  per 
formed  the  journey  thus  relates  his  experience  :  "I  hap 
pened  to  be  standing  near  the  colonel  at  the  moment, 
and  as  he  spoke  his  eye  caught  mine.  I  did  n't  like  the 
idea  of  poking  through  the  dark  woods,  and  so  waited  a 
moment,  hoping  somebody  else  would  volunteer,  but  no 
one  spoke  and  I  felt  obliged  to  ;  I  said,  '  I  will  go.'  After 
receiving  a  verbal  message  and  being  told  that  I  would 
'find  division  headquarters  off  there  to  the  left,'  I  pre 
pared  to  start.  My  directions  were  rather  indefinite,  I 
thought,  and  yet  none  more  explicit  could  have  been 
given  ;  so,  without  asking  any  questions,  I  saluted  and 
started  on  my  journey.  On  arriving  at  the  left  of  our 
brigade  line  I  inquired  : 

"  '  What  command  joins  on  your  left  ?' 

"  '  Do  n't  know  ;  do  n't  believe  there  is  any,'  was  the 
response. 

"  '  Are  there  any  pickets  out  ? ' 

"  *  No,  we  are  the  advance  line,  and  if  you  go  very  far, 
guess  you  '11  wish  you  had  n't.' 

"  'Well,  I  've  got  to  find  division  headquarters,  and  if 
I  should  come  back  this  way  do  n't  fire  on  me.' 

* '  Putting  a  fresh  cap  on  my  rifle,  I  plunged  into  the 
darkness.  Plunged,  did  I  say  ?  Crawled,  rather.  I 
made  as  little  noise  .as  possible,  fearful  that  whoever 
heard  me,  friend  or  foe,  would  be  apt  to  fire. 

"  When  a  school  boy,  how  often  had  I  revelled  in  the 


!864.  IMPENETRABLE  WOODS.  453 

wonderful  stories  of  the  adventures  of  Indian  scouts 
and  trappers  !  How  I  admired  the  daring  and  pluck 
of  the  brave  fellows  who  crawled  through  the  woods 
on  their  hands  and  knees,  who  swam  rivers  without 
taking  off  their  clothes,  and  who  always  accomplished 
their  purpose,  no  matter  how  impossible  it  seemed  ! 
I  often  wondered  if  they  never  felt  afraid,  if  they 
never  hesitated  about  going  into  the  woods  at  night, 
when  all  about  them  a  lurking  enemy  was  waiting 
to  take  their  scalps  !  But  the  stories  would  not  have 
been  good  ones  if  the  writers  had  ever  allowed  a  feel 
ing  of  fear  to  enter  the  minds  of  their  heroes.  Three 
years  experience  as  a  soldier,  had,  of  course,  driven  all 
this  romance  out  of  my  head,  and  yet,  but  for  a  moment 
only,  as  I  left  our  line,  these  thoughts  recurred.  With 
a  '  Pshaw  what  nonsense  ! '  my  mind  became  steadily 
fixed  on  the  realities  of  the  present,  and  Cooper  and  Cobb 
were  forgotten. 

"  Fifty  paces  beyond  our  line  I  lost  all  knowledge  of  the 
direction  in  which  I  was  going  ;  it  was  impossible  to  see 
the  sky,  so  I  could  not  be  guided  by  the  stars  ;  the  dense, 
almost  impenetrable  woods  and  underbrush  baffled  all 
attempts  to  keep  on  a  bee  line,  but  I  struggled  on  hoping 
and  trusting  that  somehow  I  would  come  out  all  right. 
Stopping  frequently  to  listen,  hoping  to  catch  the  sound 
of  friendly  voices  in  front  or  to  my  left,  yet  fearing  to 
hear  on  my  right  the  ominous  sounds,  now  happily  dying 
away,  I  pushed  on.  I  soon  began  to  think  that  either 
division  headquarters  had  been  moved  off,  or  that  I  was 
going  in  the  wrong  direction.  It  seemed  to  me  that  I  had 
been  over  an  hour  in  the  woods,  and  began  to  consider 
the  advisability  of  lying  down  and  waiting  for  daylight, 
believing  that  then  I  would  hear  the  voices  of  our  men  as 
they  prepared  their  breakfast,  or  made  ready  for  the 
march  or  assault,  but  the  thought  that  my  message  was' 
of  the  utmost  importance,  and  the  fact  of  this  great  gap 


454  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

existing  between  our  brigade  and  the  next  in  line,  of 
which  the  division  commander  was  no  doubt  ignorant, 
spurred  me  on.  If  the  enemy,  with  his  superior  knowl 
edge  of  the  locality  should  discover  the  break,  he  would 
no  doubt  make  it  decidedly  interesting  for  us. 

* '  I  resolved  to  keep  moving.  A  half -hour  more  passed 
before  I  heard  the  least  sound,  then  I  heard  what  seemed 
like  voices  directly  in  front,  but  whether  of  friend  or  foe 
I  could  not  determine.  It  was  just  possible  I  had  doubled 
on  my  tracks  and  was  approaching  my  own  brigade 
again.  Advancing  cautiously  and  listening  intently,  I 
at  last  got  behind  a  tree  ;  the  voices  were  more  distinct 
now,  but  the  words  were  still  unintelligible.  I  deter 
mined  to  risk  a  challenge — sticking  my  head  out  from 
behind  the  tree — with  my  heart  in  my  mouth,  I  called 
out :  4  What  regiment's  that  ? '  As  I  drew  my  head  back, 
I  heard  the  challenge  :  '  Who  is  there  ? '  '  Seventy-Ninth 
New  York,'  I  replied.  'All  right,  come  in.'  But  until  I 
was  received  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  and  found 
myself  among  comrades  of  my  own  division,  I  was  not 
sure  but  that  my  invisible  interlocutor  might  have  been  a 
'  Johnny  Reb. '  after  all. 

4 '  I  was  soon  conducted  to  headquarters  where  I  deliv 
ered  my  message,  and  also  reported  the  break  in  our  lines  ; 
a  staff  officer  was  immediately  despatched  to  attend  to  the 
matter,  and  after  answering  a  few  questions  regarding 
the  position  of  our  brigade,  I  was  dismissed  with  a  mes 
sage  to  its  commander.  I  was  in  hopes  that  I  might  be 
detained  till  daylight,  but  could  not  summon  courage 
enough  to  ask  such  a  favor,  and  was  obliged  to  retire. 
I  was  cautioned,  when  I  left  the  advanced  line  to  '  be  sure 
and  not  get  too  far  out  to  the  left, '  and  I  would  doubtless 
find  my  own  brigade  in  a  short  time.  I  knew  better,  but 
started.  I  pushed  through  the  darkness  for  perhaps  half 
an  hour,  and  began  to  think  that  if  I  had  gone  in  the 
proper  direction,  I  must  be  quite  near  our  line ;  I  had 


1864.  I   SHUFFLED   ALONG.  455 

be.eii  obliged  however  to.  so  turn  and  twist  about  in  order 
to  get  through  the  underbrush,  that  I  really  did  not  know 
in  what  direction  I  was  headed.     While  listening  for  a 
moment,  I  thought  I  heard  voices.     I  crept  nearer — I  was 
sure  of  it  ;  several  men  were  talking,  and  an  expression 
I  caught :     '  Them  d d  Yankees'  made  the  cold  shiv 
ers  run  down  my  spine  !     '  I'm  one  of  them,'  I  mentally 
explained,  'but  don't  want  you  to  know  that  I'm  so  near 
you  ! '     Undecided  for  the  moment  which  way  to  turn,  I 
did  what  many,  under  similar  circumstances  had  done 
before — stood  still  and  thought.     '  Be  sure  you're  right, 
then  go  ahead,'  had  a  peculiar  significance  for  me  just 
then.     I  had  laid  aside  my  blanket,  canteen  and  haver 
sack,  when  setting  out  on  my  journey,  and  had  nothing 
about  me  that  would  cause  the  least  rattling  or  jingling, 
or  impede  my  progress  through  the  interminable  bush, 
except  my  rifle  and  cartridge  box — the  latter  being  quite 
full  would  not  rattle.     I  knew  that  by  advancing  I  would 
run  my  head  into  the  lion's  jaws  ;  the  yelling  and  chop 
ping  had  entirely  ceased,  and  I  had  not  that  sound  to 
guide  me  to   my  friends,  or  keep  me  away  from  the 
enemy.     I  decided  to  '  bout  face '  and  put  what  I  believed 
to  be  a  safe  distance  between  me  and  the  rebel  line,  and 
then  turn  sharp  to  the  left,  thus  hoping  to  strike  our  line. 
I  was  exceedingly  careful  when  putting  down  my  feet, 
not  to  break  a  twig  or  make  the  least  noise  that  would 
attract  the  attention  of  the  party  who  had  spoken  so  dis 
respectfully  of  our  Union  soldiers  ;  I  shuffled  along  for 
perhaps  two  hundred  yards,  then  struck  off  to  the  left  as 
near  as  I  could  judge,  at  a  right  angle.     During  these 
few  minutes  the  suspense  was  such  as  I  had  never  exper 
ienced  before.     Standing  in  line  of  battle,  under  fire  of 
the  enemy,  and  waiting  for  the  command  to  charge,  was 
nothing  to  it.     I  made  up  my  mind  this  would  be  the  last 
time  I  would  ever  volunteer  on  such  a  mission,  at  least 
in  the  dark,  and  in  such  a  place  as  the  Wilderness  !    I  was 


456  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

very  thirsty,  and  my  exertions  had  produced  a  profuse 
perspiration  ;  unseen  dangers  had  no  doubt  unnerved  me 
to  some  extent,  and  I  was  very  tired.  After  creeping 
along  for  what  seemed  to  be  the  space  of  an  hour  or  more, 
I  again  heard  the  sound  of  voices  ;  after  getting  a  little 
closer  and  listening  attentively,  I  felt  sure  that  the  voices 
were  those  of  the  maligned  'Yankees.'  I  felt  relieved, 
and  yet,  if  I  alarmed  the  men,  I  knew  that  a  bullet  from 
their  rifles  would  hurt  just  as  much  as  though  fired  from 
a  rebel  gun  ;  lying  down  behind  a  tree,  I  finally  called 
out  as  I  had  done  before,  and  to  my  great  joy  found 
myself  only  a  few  yards  from  that  point  of  our  line  which 
I  had  left  fully  three  hours  before.  On  reporting  to  the 
regiment,  the  Colonel  was  pleased  to  remark  :  '  I  thought 
you  had  been  captured  ? '  I  briefly  explained  the  cause 
of  my  long  absence,  received  a  '  thank  you,  sergeant, '  and 
was  dismissed.  In  the  exciting  scenes  which  soon  fol 
lowed,  my  adventure  was,  for  the  time  being,  forgotten." 
The  losses  during  the  three  days'  fighting  had  been 
severe  ;  over  15,000  men  had  been  killed,  wounded  and 
captured.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  not  reported,  but 
was  much  less  than  that  suffered  by  the  Union  army. 


,864.  DROVE  WILSON  OUT.  457 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA.— CLOSE    OF    THREE    YEARS'   SERVICE   AND 
RETURN  OF  THE  REGIMENT  TO  NEW  YORK. 

MOVEMENT  on  Spottsylvania. — The  Ny  River. —  Beverly  Farm. —  The  Last 
Charge  of  the  Highlanders. — The  Rail  Fence. — Colonel  Morrison  Wounded 
and  Captain  Laing  in  Command. — What  "  Crackers"  said. — Operations  on 
the  loth.— Battle  of  the  1 2th .—Hancock's  Success.— The  Highlanders  at 
Headquarters. — Homeward  Bound. — Arrival  in  New  York. — Muster  Out  of 
the  Three  Years  Men. 

IN  the  afternoon  of  the  Tth  General  Grant  had  decided 
to  move  by  the  left  flank  towards  Spottsylvania 
Court  House,  and  thus  interpose  his  army  between  Lee 
and  Richmond.  The  wagon  trains  had  been  started 
before  dark  and  the  movement  was  betrayed  to  Lee, 
who,  however,  misunderstood  the  sign,  and  supposed 
that  the  Union  army  was  falling  back  on  Fredericks- 
burgh,  and  getting  ready  to  cross  the  river  and  give  up 
the  attempt  to  force  its  way  to  Richmond  through  his 
lines.  He  ordered  Anderson,  who  had  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  Longstreet's  corps,  to  march  to  Spottsyl 
vania  in  the  morning  of  the  Sth,  but  as  the  woods  were 
on  fire  about  Anderson's  position  in  the  afternoon,  and 
he  could  find  no  suitable  ground  to  camp  his  troops,  he 
began  his  march  at  once,  and  arrived  at  the  Court  House 
on  the  Sth,  shortly  after  it  had  been  occupied  by  Wilson's 
division  of  Union  cavalry,  who  had  been  ordered  forward 
by  Sheridan  early  in  the  morning.  Anderson's  infantry 
at  once  drove  Wilson  out  of  the  place  and  secured  the 
position.  Wilson's  line  of  retreat  was  such  that  he  could 


458  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

not  communicate  with  Sheridan,  and  when  Warren's 
advance  of  the  Fifth  corps  came  up,  just  before  noon, 
expecting  to  enter  without  opposition,  it  found  two  divi 
sions  of  Anderson's  corps  strongly  posted  behind  breast 
works  near  the  junction  of  the  Brock  and  Shady  Grove 
roads,  and  about  a  mile  northwest  of  the  Court  House. 
An  assault  followed,  which  resulted  in  Warren's  obtain 
ing  a  good  position,  where  he  rested  till  the  remainder  of 
the  Union  army  should  arrive.  In  the  afternoon  Sedg- 
wick  came  up  with  the  advance  of  the  Sixth  corps,  and 
Anderson  was  again  attacked,  with  the  hope  of  crushing 
him  before  the  balance  of  the  Confederate  army  should 
arrive,  but  as  only  a  small  portion  of  the  Union  force 
was  engaged  no  important  benefit  was  derived.  These 
movements  showed  to  Lee  what  Grant's  designs  were, 
and  by  evening  the  Confederate  army  was  thrown  across 
the  road  to  Richmond. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  the  brigade  was  withdrawn 
from  its  position  in  the  Wilderness  and  moved  out  on 
the  Orange  county  turnpike  in  the  direction  of  Fred- 
ericksburgh.  We  reached  the  turnpike  at  daylight,  and 
found  that  we  were  bringing  up  the  rear  of  the  army  ; 
our  progress  was  very  slow,  as  we  were  obliged  to  see 
that  everything  was  ' '  moved  along  "  before  us.  Wagons 
and  artillery,  as  usual,  blocked  the  road,  and  our  patience 
was  sorely  tried.  About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
we  came  to  a  halt  near  the  left  of  the  Union  line,  and 
the  regiment  was  thrown  out  in  advance  to  support  the 
cavalry  skirmishers.  In  the  evening  it  was  reported 
that  Spottsylvania  Court  House  was  in  our  possession  ; 
the  bands  played,  drums  beat,  and  everybody  felt  happy. 
We  put  up  our  shelter-tents  late  in  the  evening,  had  roll- 
call  at  tattoo,  and  matters  looked  as  though  the  cam 
paign  was  progressing  favorably.  But  how  little  do  the 
men  or  even  regimental  officers  know  of  the  movements 
in  the  field  ;  our  rejoicings  were  premature. 


1864.  THE   NY    RIVER.  459 

Late  in  the  afternoon  Lieutenant-Colonel  More,  who 
was  now  serving  on  General  Willcox's  staff,  called  for  a 
detail  from  his  old  company,  D,  and  after  they  had  left 
the  regiment  informed  them  that  he  had  special  work 
for  them  to  do  that  night.  It  was  necessary  to  find  the 
most  direct  road  to  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and  the 
Colonel  had  a  plan  the  execution  of  which,  he  thought, 
would  secure  a  competent  guide.  Taking  the  men  to 
our  skirmish  line  he  showed  them  a  house,  a  half  mile 
or  more  beyond  our  lines.  "Now,  boys,"  said  he,  "I 
want  you  to  take  a  good  look  at  that  house  and  the  sur 
roundings,  and  get  the  bearings  well  fixed  in  your 
minds,  for  I  want  you  to  go  there  after  dark  and  cap 
ture  a  rebel  for  me."  The  boys  promised  to  do  as  desired, 
and  after  dark  they  successfully  accomplished  their  task, 
bringing  back  a  citizen,  the  occupant  of  the  house,  who 
was  carefully  guarded  during  the  night.  At  daylight  on 
the  9th  the  Colonel,  with  a  detail  of  cavalry,  started  to 
lead  the  Ninth  corps  towards  the  objective  point.  '  Now, 
sir,"  said  he  to  the  passive  guide,  "  I  want  you  to  show 
us  the  most  direct  road  to  the  Court  House  ;  if  you  do  so 
you  will  be  allowed  to  return  to  your  own  lines,  as  soon 
as  we  meet  your  troops  ;  if  you  prove  false  and  lead  us 
away  from  the  place  you  will  be  shot  as  soon  as  we  dis 
cover  your  mistake! "  Then  turning  to  the  cavalry  escort 
he  said:  "Here,  take  this  man,  and  the  moment  you 
find  he  is  trying  to  play  false,  shoot  him  ;  if  he  leads  you 
right,  let  him  go  when  you  meet  the  enemy."  The 
guide  did  all  that  he  promised,  and  piloted  our  advance 
until  the  rebel  picket  was  encountered,  when  he  was 
allowed  to  return  within  his  own  lines. 

The  Highlanders  were  turned  out  at  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  the  9th,  and  at  four  were  on  the  march. 
About  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  the  advance  of  our 
division  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Ny  river,  on  the 
Spottsylvania-Fredericksburgh  road,  and  found  the  cross- 


460 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS. 


May, 


ing  guarded  by  a  force  of  the  enemy,  which  was  prompt 
ly  driven  back  across  the  river,  and  our  brigade,  with 
two  batteries  of  artillery,  crossed  and  occupied  a  hill 
about  half  a  mile  beyond,  on  the  Beverly  farm,  owned 
or  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Russell,  the  road  in  front  of  whose 


WHICH  THE  ENEMY  WERE  DRIVEN.  s 
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HIGHLANDERS 


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rence"\     \RussELL  HOUSE 


No.  19. 


79TH.    IN  RESERVE 


1864.  BRISK   SKIRMISH   FIRE.  461 

house  ran  along  the  crest  of  the  ridge.  A  portion  of  the 
brigade,  with  a  new  regiment  in  the  advance,  their  skir 
mishers  thrown  well  out,  were  deployed  on  the  hill-side, 
a  clear  field  of  grass  land,  back  of  the  house,  while  the 
Highlanders  were  held  in  reserve  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  crest,  in  front  of  the  house.  About  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  rods  from  the  road,  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill-side  on  which  the  troops  were  deployed,  ran  a  small 
brook  which  emptied  into  the  Ny  river  a  short  distance 
below,  and  beyond  this,  a  rod  or  two,  was  a  rail  fence 
parallel  with  the  stream  ;  from  there  the  ground,  thickly 
covered  with  underbrush,  which  partly  concealed  the 
enemy  who  had  just  been  driven  across  the  river,  grad 
ually  rose  till  the  crest,  about  011  a  level  with  Russell's 
house,  was  reached. 

Shortly  before  noon  the  enemy,  now  strongly  ree'iif  orced, 
advanced  in  order  to  recover  their  lost  ground.  The  skir 
mish  line  alluded  to  was  composed  of  two  companies  of 
Indians— tame  ones— and  as  this  was  the  first  time  the 
regiment  had  been  exposed  in  an  open  field,  we  watched 
their  movements  with  a  good  deal  of  interest,  wondering 
how  they  would  stand  the  fire  of  Longstreet's  veterans, 
who  were  rapidly  advancing  down  the  hill-side,  keeping 
up  a  brisk  skirmish  fire  at  the  same  time.  At  first  the 
advance  regiment  stood  firm,  returning  the  enemy's  fire, 
but  when  the  rebels,  with  a  yell,  jumped  over  the  rail 
fence,  crossed  the  brook  and  prepared  to  charge,  the  skir 
mish  line  broke,  turned,  and  ran  into  their  own  regiment, 
throwing  it  into  disorder,  and  causing  a  stampede.  Back 
up  the  hill  they  came,  pell-mell,  yelling  and  shouting,  as 
they  crossed  the  road  and  encountered  the  Highlanders  : 
"Get  out  of  here,  quick!  The  rebels  are  right  upon 
us  ! " 

We  were  expecting  to  "get  out,  quick,"  but  not  in  the 
direction  taken  by  our  fleeing  comrades,  whom  in  vain 
we  tried  to  stop  in  their  panicky  flight.  Morrison's  voice 


4t'>2  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

was  now  heard — in  as  measured  tones  as  thongh  on 
parade:  "  Come,  Seventy-Ninth  !  You 're  wanted  once 
more  !  Shake  out  your  colors  !  Forward  ! " 

As  we  advanced  in  line  to  the  crest  of  the  hill  our  right 
wing  encountered  the  garden  fence  ;  fortunately  the  posts 
were  rotten,  and,  yielding  to  the  pressure  of  a  hundred 
men,  the  fence  was  in  a  moment  fla,t  on  the  ground,  and 
our  line  passed  over  without  being  broken.  As  we  cleared 
the  garden  and  appeared  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  facing 
the  enemy,  they  observed  us,  but  steadily  advanced.  Now 
came  the  tug  of  war !  Which  side  would  yield  ?  Not 
the  Highlanders,  certainly.  Down  the  hill  we  marched, 
receiving  a  scattering  fire  from  the  enemy,  but  not  firing  a 
shot  in  return.  When  within  seventy  rods  of  the  foe,  the 
command  :  "  Charge  bayonets  !  Double  quick  !  March  !  " 
sent  us  down  the  hill  with  a  cheer.  The  enemy  first 
halted,  delivered  another  volley,  and  then  turned  and 
fled !  Back  over  the  creek  and  rail  fence  they  scam 
pered,  but  we  overtook  some  before  those  points  were 
reached.  An  aid  galloped  after,  with  orders  for  us  to 
halt  at  the  rail  fence,  which  afforded  a  slight  shelter. 
The  enemy  meanwhile  had  recovered  from  their  surprise, 
and  as  we  formed  behind  the  fence,  opened  a  rattling  fire 
of  musketry  on  our  ranks,  by  which  three  of  our  num 
ber  were  killed  and  eleven  wounded.  Both  color  bearers 
were  severely  wounded,  while  Colonel  Morrison  received 
an  ugly  wound  which  shattered  his  right  hand.  Eeluc- 
tant  to  leave  the  field  while  the  men  were  in  such  an 
exposed  situation,  he  was  at  last  compelled  to  do  so,  and 
the  command  of  the  regiment  devolved  on  Captain  Laing, 
who  was  ably  assisted  by  Captains  Gair  and  Baird.  We 
maintained  our  position  behind  the  fence  for  an  hour  or 
more,  firing  whenever  a  puff  of  smoke  indicated  the 
presence  of  the  enemy  ;  but  the  underbrush  concealed 
their  persons,  and  their  shots  were  doubtless  more  effec 
tive  than  ours.  While  we  held  the  enemy  in  check  our 


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1864.  MIGHT   BE   A   DECOY.  465 

demoralized  associates  were  being  re-formed  and,  with 
other  regiments,  were  being  established  in  good  positions 
on  the  hillside  below  the  Russell  house.  We  expected 
either  to  be  supported  and  sent  in  to  drive  the  enemy 
further  back,  or  else  be  recalled  to  our  starting  point,  for 
the  position  we  held  was  not  one  of  importance,  once  our 
lines  were  firmly  established. 

We  were  now  counting  the  days — yes,  the  hours — that 
intervened  between  that  day  and  the  13th.  During  a  lull 
in  the  firing,  "  Crackers, "  imitating  the  voice  of  a  tired 
and  peevish  child,  called  out,  loud  enough  for  us  all  to 
hear  :  "I  want  to  go  home  !  Boo  hoo  !  Boo  hoo  ! "  We 
could  n't  help  laughing,  but  were  soon  brought  to  a  sense 
of  duty  again  by  a  rattling  volley  from  the  enemy,  which 
wounded  two  or  three  more  of  our  men.  Early  in  the 
afternoon  we  retired  about  half  way  up  the  hill  towards 
the  Russell  house,  where  the  brigade  threw  up  a  rifle  pit, 
behind  which  our  line  was  established.  The  enemy  had 
been  foiled  in  the  attempt  to  turn  our  left  flank,  and  had 
fallen  back.  General  Willcox  gave  us  full  credit  for 
the  part  we  had  played.  ''Gallant  Highlanders!"  he 
exclaimed,  "  you  have  again  saved  my  division  !  " 

Late  in  the  day  a  small  drove  of  cattle  was  seen  quietly 
grazing  between  the  opposing  picket  lines  ;  we  thought 
it  might  be  a  decoy  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  and  at 
first  were  disposed  to  let  them  alone.  At  last  the  desire 
for  beefsteak  overcame  the  fears  of  an  ambush,  and  two 
or  three  of  our  men  crawled  out  and  drove  several  of  the 
herd  within  our  lines.  Tenderloins  toasted  on  our  ram 
rods,  or  broiled  on  the  coals,  made  a  very  palatable  sup 
per.  Towards  evening  the  enemy,  supported  by  another 
brigade,  and  a  battery  of  artillery,  attempted  again  to 
force  us  from  our  position,  but  a  few  well-directed  shots 
from  our  battery  silenced  their  guns,  and  they  gave  up 
the  attempt.  While  it  was  comparatively  quiet  in  our 
immediate  front  during  the  evening,  the  artillery  and 

30 


•±66  SEVEXTY-NINTH   HIGHLAXDERS.  May, 

musketry  rattlei  away  on  our  right  till  near  midnight. 
We  managed  to  snatch  a  little  sleep  during  the  night, 
and  it  was  much  needed,  for  we  had  none  at  all  on  the 
night  of  the  7th,  and  very  little  on  the  8th  ;  the  men 
were  so  much  worn  out  that  they  would  frequently  drop 
off  asleep  while  standing  in  line,  or  throw  themselves 
down  for  a  moment  or  two,  even  while  the  regiment  was 
under  fire.  Gr3ii3ral  Selgwick  was  killed  during  the 
forenoon  while  reconnoitering  the  enemy's  lines,  and  the 
command  of  the  Sixth  corps  devolved  on  General  Wright. 
Late  in  tli3  afternoon  Hancock  had  advanced  across  the 
Po  river,  west  of  the  court  house,  and  at  dark  had  estab 
lished  a  line  across  the  left  flank  of  Lee's  army. 

The  battle  was  renewed  early  on  the  morning  of  the 
10th,  by  Hancock,  who  pushed  part  of  his  force  against 
the  enemy,  but  he  met  with  so  much  opposition  that  the 
movement  was  suspended  in  that  direction,  and  the  Fifth 
and  Sixth  corps  were  added  to  his  command ,  in  order  that 
he  might  strike  an  effective  blow  at  the  enemy's  left  cen 
ter.  A  severe  engagement  followed,  which  resulted  in 
some  temporary  successes  on  the  part  of  one  or  two  of  his 
divisions,  but  at  night-fall  no  really  important  results  had 
been  obtained.  The  woods  took  fire  during  the  engage 
ment,  and  many  of  the  wounded  were  burned  to  death. 
Nothing  occurred  in  our  immediate  front  till  five  in  the 
afternoon,  when  we  were  ordered  to  advance,  Grant 
being  reported  as  saying  that  "  the  Court  House  must  be 
taken  at  all  hazards  ! " 

The  Highlanders  determined  to  do  their  share.  As  we 
advanced  across  some  open  ground,  the  enemy  opened  a 
heavy  fire  of  shell  and  case-shot,  and  their  fire  became  so 
hot  that  we  were  compelled  to  halt,  and  seek  cover  for  a 
few  minutes.  Re-forming  again  in  column  by  regiments, 
the  Highlanders  leading,  the  brigade  again  advanced ; 
we  were  close  on  the  heels  of  our  skirmishers,  and 
advanced  with  steady  ranks  under  a  galling  fire  from  the 


1864.  POSITION   AT   MIDNIGHT.  407 

enemy's  guns,  situated  on  a  hill  directly  in  our  front. 
On  reaching  the  foot  of  the  hill  we  found  the  ground  in 
our  front  covered  with  felled  timber,  which  formed  an 
almost  impenetrable  barrier — impassable  to  a  column  in 
line,  certainly — and  we  were  obliged  to  break  ranks  and 
scramble  through  as  best  we  could.  The  regiments  in 
our  rear  seemed  to  suffer  the  most  from  the  shells  of  the 
enemy,  which  passed  over  our  heads  and  burst  behind  us. 
The  whole  regiment  was  finally  ordered  to  deploy  on  the 
skirmish  line,  and  in  this  manner  we  worked  our  way 
through  the  slashed  timber.  Darkness  came  on  while 
engaged  in  this  work,  but  a  portion  of  our  line  reached 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  enemy,  for  we  could  hear  the 
voices  of  the  rebels  as  they  awaited  our  coming.  Owing 
to  the  nature  of  the  ground  it  was  impossible,  however, 
to  get  men  enough  in  line  to  storm  the  heights,  even  had 
there  been  enough  of  daylight  to  warrant  such  an  attempt. 
At  midnight  our  line  was  formed  within  three  hundred 
yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
night  was  occupied  in  forming  a  breast-work  to  secure 
ourselves  when  daylight  should  reveal  our  position.  We 
were  very  tired,  hungry  and  sleepy,  but  no  sleeping  was 
allowed.  Several  of  our  men  had  been  wounded  during 
the  day,  but  we  were  thankful  the  result  was  not  more 
serious. 

During  the  advance  late  in  the  afternoon,  we  bore  so 
much  to  the  left  that  communication  with  the  Sixth  corps 
on  our  right  was  severed,  and  for  an  hour  or  two  the 
Ninth  was  completely  isolated  from  the  rest  of  the  army. 
During  this  critical  period  Burnside  was  near  the  front 
line,  watching  intently  the  movements  of  the  enemy, 
nor  did  he  retire  until  communication  was  again  estab 
lished.  We  had  really  turned  the  right  of  the  rebel  army, 
but  the  darkness  prevented  Burnside  from  fully  realizing 
the  fact,  and  when  the  Highlanders  were  left  in  their 
advanced  position  at  midnight,  the  rest  of  the  corps  was 


SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

withdrawn  some  distance  to  the  rear.  Badeau  says : 
u  The  results  of  this  day,  although  disappointing,  were 
not  disheartening.  Although  the  fighting  of 

the  10th  of  May  had  been  bloody  and  continuous, 
although  every  corps  had  been  engaged,  and  at  the  close 
no  ground  was  won,  no  palpable  result  attained,  still  the 
sacrifices  were  not  in  vain.  This  day  did  its  share  to  pro 
duce  the  result  at  which  the  general-in-chief  was  aiming." 
On  the  llth  Grant  sent  a  despatch  to  the  President,  in 
which  occured  the  famous  sentence  :  ' '  I  propose  to  fight 
it  out  on  this  line,  if  it  takes  all  Summer." 

Daylight  of  the  llth  showed  that  the  position  occupied 
by  the  Highlanders  was  untenable,  unless  supported  by 
the  whole  corps.  We  would  certainly  have  been  obliged 
to  abandon  it  as  soon  as  daylight  discovered  to  the  enemy 
our  whereabouts,  had  it  not  been  for  the  defence  we  had 
erected  during  the  night.  The  day  opened  hot  and  sul 
try  ;  our  skirmish  fire  began  at  daylight,  at  seven  the 
enemy  opened  with  artillery,  and  two  or  three  more  of 
our  men  were  wounded.  At  two  in  the  afternoon,  leav 
ing  a  strong  picket  line  at  the  front,  in  charge  of  Captain 
Baird,  the  rest  of  the  regiment  retired  a  short  distance  to 
the  rear.  At  three  o'clock  a  violent  rain-storm  set  in, 
which  continued  till  dark,  and  at  half -past  seven  Burii- 
side  ordered  the  regiment  back  to  its  position  at  the  front 
in  support  of  the  skirmish  line.  During  the  day  the 
operations  which  had  been  carried  on  by  the  troops  on 
our  right,  developed  the  fact,  that  a  favorable  point  for 
attack  existed  on  the  right  center  of  Lee's  lines,  and  prep 
arations  were  accordingly  made  for  an  assault  early  on 
the  following  morning.  Hancock  brought  the  Second 
corps  to  the  right  of  the  Ninth  during  the  night,  and 
Grant's  orders  were  issued  for  an  assault  by  both  corps  at 
four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  12th.  Potter's  division 
was  to  lead  the  Ninth  corps,  supported  by  the  First  divi 
sion,  while  our  division,  which  bore  the  brunt  of  battle 
the  day  before,  was  to  be  held  in  reserve. 


CAPTURED   SALIENT.  469 

As  the  Highlanders,  just  after  daylight,  were  moving 
to  their  position  in  line,  Lieutenant -Colonel  More  appeared 
with  orders  for  the  regiment  to  report  at  General  Burn- 
side's  headquarters,  and  when  that  place  was  reached  we 
were  ordered  to  perform  provost-guard  duty.     This  day 
saw  the  culmination  of  the  eight  days'  almost  continuous 
fighting  since  the  army  crossed  the  Rapidan.     Hancock 
had  massed  his  command  within  twelve  hundred  yards 
of  the  rebel   intreiichments,   opposite   a   salient  which 
extended  in  the  form  of  the  letter  V,  some  four  or  five 
hundred  yards  in  front  of  their  main  line,  and  against 
this  the  troops  were  hurled  at  five  o'clock.     Badeau  well 
describes  the  assault,  and  from  his  account  the  following 
is  gathered  :     The  divisions  of  the  Second  corps  rushed 
up,    into,    and    beyond   the    enemy's    position,    driving- 
through  their  ranks  and  breaking  their  line  in  two,  then 
swinging  round  captured  over  four  thousand  prisoners 
of   EwelFs    corps,    among  whom   were   Major  -  General 
Edward  Johnson,  commanding  the  division,  and  Briga 
dier-General  Stewart.     Twenty  pieces  of  artillery,  with 
their  horses,    caissons  and    material  complete,    several 
thousand  stand  of  arms  and  thirty  colors  was  the  result 
of  this  brilliant  charge.     Burnside  had  moved  a  little 
earlier  than   Hancock,  but   the  difficulties  in  his  way 
were  great,  and  although  Potter  succeeded  in  driving 
the  enemy  out  of  some  of  their  intrenched  positions,  he 
was  afterwards  compelled  to  fall  back.     Before  the  day 
closed,  however,  portions  of  the  enemy's  lines  had  been 
driven  back  some  two  miles. 

On  the  extreme  right  Warren  made  a  very  feeble 
attack,  and  his  corps  was  finally  broken  up,  two  divi 
sions  being  sent,  one  each,  to  the  Second  and  Sixth  corps. 
Five  separate  attacks  were  made  on  Hancock's  captured 
salient,  but  the  Second  and  Sixth  corps  held  the  ground. 
As  the  enemy  still  held  an  inner  line  no  great  advantage 
was  gained  by  the  day's  fighting.  It  was  midnight 


4:70  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

before  the  enemy  ceased  their  attacks,  and  a  cold  and 
drizzling  rain  was  falling  as  they  withdrew  to  their  inner 
line. 

About  noon,  as  Potter's  division  was  driven  back,  the 
enemy  appeared  to  be  moving  heavy  masses  of  infantry 
and  artillery  around  to  our  left,  and  one  or  two  of  our 
batteries  posted  near  headquarters  opened  on  their  lines. 
The  commissary,  fearing  that  we  might  be  obliged  to 
abandon  our  position,  ordered  a  large  quantity  of  stores 
to  be  made  ready  for  burning,  and  we  were  told  to  help 
ourselves  to  what  we  wanted.  Our  haversacks  were 
soon  filled  with  crackers,  coffee,  tea  and  sugar  —  enough 
we  thought  to  last  us  till  we  should  arrive  at  Washing 
ton,  for  which  place  we  expected  to  start  on  the  follow 
ing  morning.  When  we  pitched  our  shelter-tents  in  the 
evening  we  had  about  a  hundred  rebel  prisoners  in 
charge,  captured  during  the  day  by  the  troops  of  the 
Ninth  corps. 

The  eventful  13th  of  May  dawned  at  last.  As 
we  looked  into  each  other's  eyes  we  could  not  but 
notice  the  appearance  of  relief  which  found  expression 
through  those  "windows  of  the  soul."  The  past  week 
had  been  one  of  anxiety  to  us  all — so  near  the  expiration 
of  our  term  of  service,  and  yet  engaged  in  the  most 
bloody  series  of  battles  the  Union  army  had  ever  fought. 
Many  who  had  passed  unscathed  through  all  previous 
engagements  had  been  either  killed  or  wounded,  and 
"whose  turn  next"  was  often  in  our  thoughts.  The 
danger  seemed  really  greater  — at  least  we  realized  it 
more  —  during  this  campaign  than  any  other,  and  yet 
the  Highlanders  never  fought  better,  never  performed 
the  duty  assigned  them  more  promptly  or  fearlessly,  than 
since  crossing  the  Rapidan.  It  was  a  source  of  satisfac 
tion  to  know  that  those  of  us  who  had  served  three  years 
had  completed  our  term  of  service  and  were  now  entitled 
to  an  honorable  discharge.  Those  of  our  number  who 


1864.  BEAUTIFUL   STATE   FLAG.  471 

had  a  few  months  yet  to  serve  expected  to  complete  their 
term,  unless  sooner  discharged,  but  hoped  they  might 
accompany  the  regiment  home  for  a  short  furlough. 
Their  hopes  were  realized,  for  the  order  directing  us  to 
leave  the  field  made  no  exceptions.  At  five  o'clock, 
and  escorting  the  rebel  prisoners,  we  began  our  march 
towards  Fredericksburgh,  reaching  that  place  at  two  in 
the  afternoon.  Halting  for  dinner,  we  resumed  our 
march  in  half  an  hour,  and  at  half-past  three  halted  for 
the  night.  The  prisoners  were  quiet  and  orderly,  and  at 
night  Companies  B,  H  and  I  formed  the  guard,  encircling 
the  camp  and  keeping  a  watchful  eye  over  our  charge. 
At  six  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning  we  were  off  again, 
and  at  one  in  the  afternoon  reached  Belle  Plain,  where 
our  prisoners  were  turned  over  to  the  proper  authorities. 
The  regiment  then  embarked  on  the  steamboat  General 
Hooker,  and  Alexandria  was  reached  at  seven  in  the 
evening.  We  marched  to  the  Soldiers'  Best,  where  sup 
per  was  served  and  where  we  remained  for  the  night. 

The  beautiful  State  flag  which  had  been  voted  to  the 
regiment  by  the  common  council  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  and  which  had  been  sent  on  as  far  as  Alexandria, 
was  now  exhibited.  It  was  too  nice  looking  to  be  carried 
in  the  field,  the  boys  thought,  but  would  look  very  well 
on  Broadway.  After  breakfast  on  Sunday  morning  we 
went  to  the  store  house  and  got  our  knapsacks,  which 
had  been  left  there  when  we  began  our  march  in  April. 
The  river  was  then  visited  for  a  good  bath,  and  when  we 
donned  our  best  clothes  the  men  looked  and  felt  much 
better.  Colonel  Farnsworth  paid  us  a  visit  while  here, 
and  received  a  cordial  greeting.  In  the  evening  the  regi 
mental  baggage  arrived,  but  too  late  for  us  to  leave  that 
night.  On  Monday,  at  noon,  clothing  was  issued  to  all 
who  needed  any,  and  at  three  o'clock  we  found  ourselves 
in  Washington.  We  had  supper  at  the  Soldiers'  Retreat, 
and  at  six  o'clock  were  on  the 'cars.  Baltimore  was 


±72  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  May, 

reached  at  ten  o'clock,  and  marching  to  the  Soldiers' 
Home  we  remained  for  the  night.  After  breakfast  on 
Tuesday  we  boarded  the  cars  again,  and  at  five  in  the 
afternoon  reached  Philadelphia.  A  short  parade  was 
made  through  the  principal  streets  to  the  Camden  and 
Amboy  depot,  and  at  the  Union  Refreshment  Saloon  we 
were  treated  to  a  fine  supper.  At  eight  o'clock  we 
crossed  the  river,  and  an  hour  later  were  moving  slowly 
on  our  way.  When  Jersey  City  was  reached,  at  half- 
past  three  on  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  18th,  we 
at  once  began  to  brush  up  for  the  reception  of  company. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  Caledonian  club  of  New  York 
arrived,  and  also  a  committee  with  ' ;  glengaries, "  one 
for  each  man  in  the  regiment ;  these  were  distributed, 
and  worn  in  place  of  our  army  caps.  Crossing  Court- 
landt  street  ferry  we  planted  our  feet  on  New  York  soil 
at  twenty  minutes  to  eleven.  Escorted  by  the  Caledon 
ians  and  the  Seventh  and  Sixty -Ninth  Militia  regiments, 
we  marched  up  Broadway  to  the  City  Hall,  where  the 
City  Fathers  received  us  ;  then  up  to  Fourteenth  street, 
to  Sixth  avenue,  to  Twenty-Third  street,  to  Eighth 
avenue,  to  Greenwich  street,  to  the  Jefferson  Market 
Armory,  where  a  fine  collation  had  been  prepared  by  the 
city  authorities.  After  partaking  of  this  we  marched  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  regiment,  at  the  Mercer  House, 
where  we  deposited  our  arms  and  were  dismissed. 
Nothing  need  be  said  here  of  the  meeting  with  rela 
tives  and  friends.  Many  came  to  greet  us  whose  loved 
ones  were  not  in  our  ranks,  but  whose  bodies  occupied 
soldiers'  graves  on  the  spot  where  they  fell,  and  who 
yielded  up  their  lives  that  the  survivors  might  enjoy 
peace. 

In  the  evening  the  Caledonian  club  honored  us  with  a 
banquet  at  the  City  Assembly  rooms,  and  the  regulation 
"wee  sma  hours  ayont  the  twal"  were  reached  before 
"Auld  Lang  Syne"  was  sung  and  the  comrades  dis 
persed. 


1864. 


SEASON   OF   REST.  473 


The  work  of  preparing  the  muster-out  rolls  was  heguh 
at  once,  and  on  the  31st  of  the  month  the  formality  of 
muster-out  was  observed  towards  the  original  members. 
Those  who  were  to  return  to  the  field  were  notified  to 
hold  themselves  in  readiness,  while  the  veterans>ntered 
upon  a  season  of  rest  and  recreation  which  they  had  so 
richly  earned. 


SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  June, 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE   LAST  YEAR   OF  THE  WAR. -SIEGE   OF   PETERSBURG.— CON 
CLUSION. 

EFFORTS  to  Continue  the  Organization  in  the  Field.— Captains  Heffron  and 
Baird  Reenter  the  Service. — Departure  of  the  Men  for  the  Front. — On  Duty 
at  Headquarters,  Eighteenth  Army  Corps. — Burnside's  Self-abnegation. — 
Resume  of  Operations  in  the  Field. — Transfer  of  Highlanders  to  Ninth  Army 
Corps  Headquarters. — In  Front  of  Petersburg. — Hatcher's  Run. — Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Elliot  Assists  in  Obtaining  Recruits  for  the  Regiment. — Reor 
ganization. — Fort  Stedman. — The  Final  Assault. — Sutherland  Station. — Lee's 
Surrender. — Half  a  Pint  of  Whiskey  for  a  Brigade. — At  Alexandria. — Return 
Home. — The  Militia  Regiment  After  the  War. — Regiment  Disbanded. — The 
Veteran  Organization. — Final  Reflections. — Death  of  General  Grant. — Chap 
lain  Kennedy's  Verses. 

HP  HE  records  show  that  when  the  Highlanders  returned 
to  New  York,  all  the  commissioned  officers  had  served 
three  years — the  term  of  their  enlistment — and  were  mus 
tered  out.  The  number  of  enlisted  men  whose  time  had 
not  expired  was  one  hundred  and  seventeen.  After  a 
brief  season  allowed  them  for  visiting  their  relatives  and 
friends,  these  men  were  sent  to  the  general  rendezvous 
at  Hart's  Island,  there  to  await  the  action  of  the  Govern 
ment.  The  friends  of  the  regiment  were  desirous  that  the 
organization  should  be  continued  in  the  field  as  the  Seventy- 
Ninth  Highlanders  till  the  close  of  the  war,  and  measures 
were  taken  to  recruit  a  sufficient  number  to  fill  up  the  ranks. 
Colonel  Morrison  recommended  Captains  Heffron  and  A. 
D.  Baird  as  suitable  officers  to  take  charge  of  the  men, 
and  they  promptly  volunteered  their  services  to  accom 
pany  the  men  to  the  field  as  soon  as  thart  time  should 


1 864. 


TWO   COMPANIES.  475 


arrive.  The  popularity  of  these  officers  induced  others 
who  had  been  mustered  out  to  reenlist,  and  before  the 
close  of  the  War  the  regiment  was  stronger  in  numbers 
than  at  any  time  during  1863  or  1864. 

Seventeen  of  the  men,  who  had  but  a  few  days  to 
serve,  were  mustered  out  before  June  llth,  at  which 
time  Brigadier-General  N.  I.  Jackson,  commanding  at 
Hart's  Island,  issued  "  Special  Order  No.  146,"  of  which 
the  following  is  an  extract :  "  In.  pursuance  of  Special 
Orders  No.  130,  par.  II,  dated  office  of  the  A.  A.  Provost 
Marshal  General,  New  York  City,  June  8th,  1864,  Cap 
tain  Baird,  of  the  79th  New  York  Volunteers,  wiU  pro 
ceed  on  board  steamer  'Varuna,'  en  route  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  and  take  charge  of  the  following  detachment  of 
enlisted  men  for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  whose  term 
of  service  has  not  expired,  viz.  :  For  79th  N.  Y.  Vols., 
one  hundred  (100)  men."  Besides  these  there  were  a 
large  number  of  men  for  other  regiments,  including 
some  drafted  men  and  stragglers,  all  of  whom  Captain 
Baird  safely  delivered  to  the  authorities  at  Fort  Monroe. 

The  colors  which  the  regiment  had  carried  during  its 
previous  term  of  service,  were  consigned  to  the  keeping 
of  our  comrades  who  had  helped  us  win  laurels  under 
their  folds,  and  we  felt  assured  they  would  be  carried  as 
honorably  and  guarded  as  jealously  through  subsequent 
campaigns  as  they  had  been  when  we  stood  shoulder  to 
shoulder  in  previous  battles.  Before  leaving  New  York 
the  men  were  formed  into  two  companies,  A  and  B,  and 
on  arriving  at  their  destination  and  reporting  to  General 
Butler,  they  were  ordered  into  camp  at  Hampton, 
day  or  two  after  their  arrival  the  detachment  was  joined 
by  Captain  Heffron.  On  the  19th  they  were  sent  to 
Camp  Distribution,  uncertain  as  to  what  disposition 
would  ultimately  be  made  of  them  ;  but  old  friends  were 
looking  after  their  interests,  for  as  soon  as  Colonel  Bowen, 
who  had  been  on  General  Potter's  staff  when  the  regi- 


•±76  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  June, 

meiit  was  in  the  field,  and  who  was  now  serving  on  that 
of  General  W.  F.  Smith,  heard  of  their  arrival,  he  secured 
their  assignment  as  provost  guard  of  the  Eighteenth 
corps,  Army  of  the  James,  commanded  by  General 
Smith.  This  transfer  was  made  on  the  20th  ;  the  corps 
was  in  front  of  Petersburg,  and  the  Highlanders  assumed 
their  duties  at  once.  Captain  Heffron  was  appointed 
Provost  Marshal  of  the  corps,  which  removed  him  to  the 
staff  of  Genera]  Smith,  and  the  command  of  the  men 
devolved  on  the  competent  shoulders  of  Captain  A.  D. 
Baird. 

Let  us  look  back  for  a  moment,  and  see  what  the  army 
has  done  since  the  Highlanders  left  the  field  on  the  13th 
of  May.  Minor  engagements  occupied  the  time  from 
then  until  the  20th,  when  the  army  moved  towards  the 
North  Anna  river,  which  was  reached  on  the  23d.  From 
that  date  till  the  27th  some  severe  fighting  occurred, 
with  a  total  loss  to  the  Union  army  of  over  eleven  hun 
dred  men.  The  Mnth  corps  had  been  consolidated  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  24th,  and  Burnside  was 
then  under  the  direction  of  General  Meade.  Badeau, 
who  has  severely  criticised  Burnside's  military  ability, 
says,  regarding  this  matter  :  "On  every  occasion  during 
the  war,  when  there  was  need,  Burnside  displayed  the 
same  heroic  self-abnegation.  The  purity  of  his 

patriotism  and  the  loftiness  of  his  public  spirit  were 
unsurpassed." 

Failing  to  force  his  way  through  the  enemy's  lines  on 
the  North  Anna,  Grant  continued  his  flank  movements 
by  the  left,  and  marched  down  to  Hanover  Town  on 
the  Pamunky,  which  river  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the 
North  and  South  Anna  rivers,  and  the  crossing  was 
effected  without  serious  opposition  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy.  The  base  of  supplies,  and  the  immense  train  of 
over  four  thousand  wagons,  were  now  transferred  to 
White  House,  on  the  York  river,  where  communication 


1864. 


CLOSE   TO   RICHMOND.  4-70 


was  had  with  the  North  by  means  of  steamers.  At  Cold 
Harbor  the  Union  Army  again  encountered  the  Confed 
erates,  and  from  the  1st  to  the  12th  of  June,  a  series  of 
bloody  battles  were  fought,  which  cost  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  and  of  the  James,  nearly  fifteen  thousand  men. 
This  was  the  scene  of  the  battle  of  Games'  Mill  in  1802, 
and  the  ground  was  familiar  to  many  who  were  again 
pitted  against  the  veterans  of  Lee.  The  losses  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  during  the  campaign  from  May 
r>th  to  June  12th,  inclusive,  were  about  forty-nine  thou 
sand,  besides  which  about  ten  thousand  had  been  sent 
away,  sick.  Badeau's  estimate  of  the  enemy's  loss  dur 
ing  the  same  period  is  thirty  thousand. 

Grant  had  now  forced  the  rebel  army  so  close  to  Rich 
mond,  that  nothing  was  left  but  a  direct  assault  on  their 
intrenchments,  in  case  he  wished  to  capture  the  city,  but 
it  was  the  Confederate  Army  more  than  the  Capital  that 
he  was  after.     Another  reason  against  a  direct  assault 
was  that   Grant  was  unwilling   to   adopt  a  plan  that 
would,  even  if  successful,  entail  such  an  enormous  sacri 
fice  of  life,  and  so  he  moved  his  army  south  of  the  James 
River  and  advanced  on  Petersburg,  hoping  to  capture  that 
stronghold  before  Lee  could  concentrate  his  troops  to 
oppose  him.     Grant  was  directing,  in  person,  the  most 
important  campaign  of  the  war.     With  all  the  armies  of 
the  Union  under  his  command,  he  arranged  their  move 
ments  with  a  view  of  accomplishing  the  greatest  amount 
of  good  to  the  cause,  and  if  by  waiting  till  Sherman  had 
"  cut  the  Confederacy  in  twain,"  by  his  bold  and  brilliant 
march  to  the  sea,  more  could  be  accomplished  towards 
ending  the  war,  than  by  a  direct  assault  on  Richmond, 
he  purposed  to  "fight  it  out  on  that  line.'' 

The  Highlanders  performed  the  duty  assigned  them  in 
a  creditable  manner,  but  often  wished  to  be  with  their 
old  comrades  of  the  Ninth  corps,  many  of  whom  they 
frequently  met,  as  the  two  corps  were  posted  near  each 


480  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  March, 

other  during  the  siege.  Finally  Captain  Heffroii  made 
application  to  General  Parke,  who  had  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  the  Ninth  corps  on  the  retirement  of  General 
Burn  side  about  the  middle  of  August,  and  on  the  10th  of 
September  the  transfer  was  made,  and  the  Highlanders 
assigned  to  the  same  duty  at  those  headquarters.  Besides 
headquarters  duty  the  command  was  frequently  called 
upon  in  emergencies  to  take  position  at  the  front,  and 
on  the  27th  of  October,  at  Hatcher's  Run,  were  actively 
engaged,  although  no  casualties  occurred  in  their  ranks. 

Strong  efforts  were  being  made  to  recruit  the  ranks  up 
to  the  maximum,  in  order  to  entitle  the  command  to  a 
regimental  organization.  Our  ex-Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Samuel  M.  Elliot,  had  received  authority,  just  before  the 
regiment  returned  to  New  York  in  May,  to  raise  a  regi 
ment,  to  be  called  the  ''Cameron  Rifle  Highlanders.'7 
Little  progress  had  been  made,  however,  and  on  the  9th 
of  November  that  authority  was  revoked,  and  he  was 
authorized  to  recruit,  instead,  the  ranks  of  the  Seventy- 
Ninth.  The  men  he  had  already  enrolled  were  formed 
into  two  companies,  C  and  D,  and  sent  to  the  front,  and 
in  January,  1865,  another  company,  E,  was  forwarded, 
and  in  March  Company  F  was  organized  in  the  field  from 
recruits  forwarded  from  Elmira.  Captain  Baird  had  been 
ordered  on  to  New  York  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in 
the  matter,  and  he  found  Lieutenant  -  Colonel  Elliot 
enthusiastic  in  his  efforts  to  benefit  the  regiment  and 
perpetuate  the  record  of  the  Highlanders. 

When  Captain  Baird  returned  with  the  last  lot  of 
recruits  a  thorough  reorganization  was  effected.  Cap 
tain  Heffroii  was  commissioned  Lieutenant -Colonel,  and 
Captain  Baird  Major  and  Lieutenant- Colonel  by  brevet ; 
while  the  following  men,  all  of  whom  had  been  non 
commissioned  officers  during  their  previous  term  of  ser 
vice,  were  made  captains  :  of  Company  A,  Francis  W. 
Judge  ;  Company  B,  James  McLean  ;  Company  C,  Alex- 


1864.  POINT   OF   ATTACK.  481 

aiider  L.  Baird  ;  Company  D,  James  S.  King  ;  Company 
E,  James  Jones  ;  Company  F,  Alfred  Douglass.  These 
officers  had  already  been  distinguished  for  bravery  in  the 
field,  and  their  promotion  was  simply  the  reward  of 
faithful  services,  and  it  was  well  assured  that  their 
future  record  wrould  be  as  bright  as  that  won  with 
their  former  comrades.  First  and  second  lieutenants 
were  also  commissioned  ;  those  men  who  had  served 
longest  being  given  the  preference. 

Outpost  as  well  as  guard  duty  served  to  keep  the  High 
landers  busy,  and  a  number  of  casualties  occurred  during 
the  many  strategic  movements  of  the  besieging  army 
while  in  front  of  Petersburg.  On  the  25th  of  March, 
when  the  enemy  broke  through  the  Union  lines  and 
temporarily  captured  Fort  Stedman,  the  regiment  was 
engaged  with  the  troops  sent  to  drive  back  the  Confeder 
ates,  in  which  operation  they  were  entirely  successful. 
The  enemy  were  not  only  driven  back  and  our  own  works 
recaptured  by  the  Ninth  corps,  but  the  troops  pressed  on, 
and,  assisted  by  the  Second  corps,  captured  an  intrenched 
picket  line  of  the  enemy's,  which  enabled  our  troops  to 
establish  a  new  line,  and  from  which  the  Sixth  and  Ninth 
corps  advanced  to  the  final  and  successful  assault  on  the 
2nd  of  April. 

On  the  30th,  General  Parke  was  ordered  to  assault  the 
enemy's  lines,  and  the  point  of  attack  being  left  to  his 
own  discretion,  he  selected  that  opposite  Fort  Sedgwick, 
more  familiarly  and  profanely  known  among  the  men  as 
Fort  ' '  Hell. "  The  Highlanders  were  temporarily  relieved 
from  duty  at  headquarters  and  ordered  into  the  fort  as  its 
garrison,  and  Potter's  and  Hartranft's  divisions,  which 
had  been  selected  to  make  the  assault,  were  formed  in 
the  rear  and  under  cover  of  the  fort.  Orders  were  soon 
received  from  General  Meade,  however,  to  defer  the 
assault,  as  the  other  troops  which  were  to  cooperate  had 
not  attained  their  proper  positions  on  the  left. 

31 


•±82  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  April, 

The  next  day,  April  1st,  orders  were  again  issued  for 
th3  assault,  but  it  was  not  till  after  nightfall  that  any 
alvance  was  made.  A  portion  of  the  enemy's  outer  line 
was  carried  and  a  number  of  prisoners  captured,  but 
thsir  main  Una  of  works  proved,  in  the  darkness,  an 
insurmountable  obstacle,  and  during  the  night  our  men 
were  withdrawn,  and  preparations  made  to  renew  the 
assault  in  the  morning.  B afore  daylight  on  the  morning 
of  tha  2nd,  General  Parke  established  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Rice,  half  a  mile  northwest  of  Fort  Sedgwick. 
General  Willcox,  whose  division  was  in  front  of  Fort 
Stedman,  was  to  make  a  feint  at  that  point,  while  Gen 
erals  Potter  and  Hartranft  were  to  make  the  real  assault 
in  front,  and  to  the  left  of,  the  fort  occupied  by  the 
Highlanders.  Our  111311  were  well  pleased  with  their 
position  in  the  fort,  and  considered  themselves  fortunate 
in  being  assigned  to  a  duty  less  dangerous  than  that  allot 
ted  to  the  assaulting  column. 

Hartranft's  division  was  now  formed  in  front  of  the 
fort,  with  0113  brigade  of  Willcox's  division  on  his  right, 
his  left  extending  towards  the  Jerusalem  plank  road  ; 
while  Potter's  division  was  placed  with  its  right  resting 
on  that  road.  Before  it  was  light  our  artillery  opened 
and  General  Willcox  advanced.  Colonel  Ely,  of  the 
Eighth  Michigan,  commanding  his  brigade,  was  on  the 
extreme  right,  while  Colonel  Bolton  commanded  the 
brigade  that  advanced  towards  the  vicinity  of  the  mine. 
These  two  brigades  performed  the  task  allotted  them  so 
well,  that  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  was  concentrated  in 
their  front.  It  was  not  yet  light — only  half -past  four— 
when  the  main  attack  was  ordered.  Woodbury's 
account,  from  which  a  part  of  the  above  has  been 
gleaned,  is  as  follows  : 

"They  (Hartranft's  division)  were  received  with  a 
storm  of  grape,  canister  and  musketry,  but  through  the 
deadly  tempest  they  advanced  with  an  intrepidity  which 


1864.  THE   APPOMATTOX. 

showed  that  the  Ninth  corps  had  not  lost  the  ancient 
daring.  They  plunged  through  the  ditch,  tore  away  the 
abattis,  scaled  the  walls,  swept  over  the  parapets  and 
carried  the  works.  General  Potter's  division 

advanced  upon  the  left,  in  the  face  of  a  terrific  fire, 
which  made  dreadful  rents  in  the  attacking  column. 
The  enemy's  line  in  the  part  which  General  Potter 
assailed  was  heavily  fortified,  and  it  was  necessary  to 
drive  him  from  traverse  to  traverse  in  a  hand-to-hand 
conflict.  The  enemy  was  very  tenacious  and 

fought  with  great  resolution,  but  was  finally  obliged  to 
yield  before  the  progress  of  our  troops.  For  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  he  was  borne  back  into  an  interior  line  of  works, 
where  he  was  strongly  reeiiforced,  and  was  enabled  to 
check  the  advancing  columns.  A  very  daring  but  unsuc 
cessful  attempt  was  made  to  carry  this  inner  position,  in 
the  midst  of  which  General  Potter  fell,  very  severely 
wounded.  General  Griffin  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  division. 

"It  was  now  daylight.  The  operations  thus  far  had 
been  very  successful.  The  enemy's  line,  to  the  distance 
of  four  hundred  yards  on  each  side  of  the  Jerusalem 
plank  road,  including  several  forts  and  redans,  had  been 
taken  by  our  troops.  Meanwhile,  the  Sixth,  Second,  and 
portions  of  the  Twenty-Fourth  and  Twenty-Fifth  corps, 
had  attacked  from  the  left,  and  succeeded  in  carrying  a 
part  of  the  opposing  lines  in  their  front,  with  two  thou 
sand  prisoners  and  at  least  fifteen  pieces  of  artillery. 

*  *    Before  the  day  had  passed,  it  reached  the  banks  of 
the  Appomattox  on  the  southwest  side  of  Petersburg. 

*  *    *     T;he    Ninth    corps,    after   its    first    successful 
assault,  received  orders  to  hold  on  to  what  it  had  already 
gained.     General  Parke  had  attacked  the  enemy's  main 
line,  w^hile  the  other  corps  had  attacked  another  line, 
which  might  be  occupied  without  securing  possession  of 
the  city.     *    *    * 


484  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS.  April, 

"  It  was  useless  to  contend  against  fate.  General  Lee, 
beaten  on  the  flank  and  front,  prepared  to  abandon  the 
position  which  he  had  so  long  and  skillfully  defended. 
At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  the 
enemy's  pickets  were  still  out.  They  were  doubtless 
withdrawn  very  soon  afterwards,  for  at  four  o'clock 
when  our  skirmishers  advanced  they  met  with  no  resist 
ance.  The  troops  were  immediately  put  in  motion  and 
entered  the  city  at  all  points.  Of  the  Ninth  corps.  Colonel 
Ely's  brigade  was  the  first  to  pass  the  enemy's  works, 
and  Colonel  Ely  himself  received  the  formal  surrender  of 
the  city.  At  half -past  four  the  First  Michigan  Sharp 
shooters  raised  their  flag  upon  the  Court  House  and 
Petersburg  was  ours  !  " 

The  Highlanders  were  now  ordered  to  return  to  corps 
headquarters.  They  marched  into  the  city  with  the 
other  troops,  but  did  not  remain  long.  General  Willcox 
was  made  Military  Governor  and  remained  with  his 
division  to  hold  the  place,  while  the  other  two  divisions, 
with  the  Sixth  corps,  pursued  the  retreating  enemy. 
Sutherland  Station,  eight  miles  west  of  the  city,  on  the 
South-side  railroad,  was  reached  late  in  the  afternoon, 
where  corps  headquarters  were  established,  and  here  the 
regiment  remained  until  the  surrender  of  the  Confeder 
ate  Army  at  Appomattox  on  the  9th.  On  that  memora 
ble  day,  when  the  Union  Army  witnessed  the  collapse  of 
the  rebellion,  and  realized  that  the  long  and  bloody  war 
was  virtually  over,  the  Highlanders  rejoiced  with  all 
their  comrades,  for  peace  was  now  assured,  and  ' '  the 
citizen  soldiers  "  had  made  a  record  of  which  they  were 
justly  proud,  and  which  is  well  worthy  of  being  handed 
down  to  generations  yet  unborn. 

For  a  short  time  after  the  surrender,  while  the  com 
mand  was  at  Burkesville  Junction,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Heff ron  was  busily  employed  in  furnishing  transporta 
tion  for  the  ex-Confederates,  while  details  from  the 


,864.  THE   BRIGADIER.  485 

command  were  scattered  about  acting  as  guards  to 
persons  and  property.  Large  numbers  of  Lee's  soldiers 
were  encamped  near  by,  many  of  whom  were  not  in  a 
very  repentant  frame  of  mind.  One  of  this  class,  a  brig 
adier-general,  presented  himself  at  Colonel  Heff  roll's 
quarters  one  day,  and,  in  a  somewhat  haughty  manner, 
asked  for  a  ration  of  whiskey  for  his  "  brigade."  It  was 
only  the  day  before  that  news  of  Lincoln's  assassination 
reached  the  army,  and  it  was  with  considerable  difficulty 
that  some  of  our  hot-headed  comrades  were  prevented 
from  coming  to  blows,  or  even  worse,  with  the  hot 
heads  on  the  other  side.  Heffroii  was  too  much  of  a 
gentleman,  however,  to  alter,  his  demeanor  towards  the 
unfortunate  Southerners,  even  under  such  trying  cir 
cumstances,  so  long  as  they  behaved  themselves  and 
kept  quiet ;  but  this  request  —  almost  a  demand  —  for 
whiskey,  at  that  time,  was  more  than  he  could  endure. 
He  bit  his  lip,  sat  down  at  his  table  and  wrote  on  a  piece 
of  paper  : 

''The  commissary  will  furnish  General  -  — ,  late  of 
the  Confederate  army,  with  half  a  pint  of  whiskey  for 
his  brigade. 

HENRY  G.  HEFFRON,  Lieutenant-Colonel, 

and  Provost-Marshal,  Ninth  Army  Corps." 

This  he  handed  to  the  applicant,  turned  on  his  heel,  and 
went  into  another  apartment.  The  brigadier  read  the 
slip,  tore  it  into  bits,  and  walked  out. 

On  the  19th  the  regiment  reached  City  Point,  and 
from  there  went  to  Alexandria,  of  which  city  Colonel 
Heffroii  was  appointed  Provost-Marshal.  He  was  also 
ordered  to  establish  a  "Provisional  Camp,"  for  the 
accommodation  of  troops  passing  through  on  their  way 
to  Washington,  and  details  from  the  regiment  were 
made  to  assist  in  the  work.  Two  companies,  under 


486  SEYENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS.  July, 

command  of  Captain  Alexander  L.  Baird,  were  detailed 
for  special  duty  as  guard  at  Mount  Vernon,  during  the 
stay  of  the  corps  at  Alexandria.  When  the  grand  review 
was  held  in  Washington,  011  the  22nd  and  23d  of  May, 
the  Highlanders  formed  a  part  of  the  pageant,  after 
which  they  returned  to  Alexandria,  where  they  remained 
till  mustered  out  on  the  14th  of  July.  On  their  arrival 
in  New  York  they  were  received  by  the  veterans  of  the 
regiment  and  a  company  each  from  the  Seventh  and 
Sixty-Ninth  militia.  At  the  rendezvous  at  Hart's  Island 
they  were  paid  off  and  dismissed,  thus  ending  the  record 
of  the  Seventy -Ninth  Highlanders  in  the  war  of  rebellion. 


THE   DISBANDMENT.  487 


THE  REORGANIZED  MILITIA  REGIMENT. 


Many  of  the  veterans  who  had  been  mustered  out  in 
1864,  maintained  their  connection  with  the  National 
Guard  of  the  State,  under  the  original  designation  of  a 
militia  regiment,  and  after  the  return  of  the  "men  of 
'05  "  a  reorganization  was  effected,  although  very  many 
who  had  served  in  the  field  had  no  desire  or  taste  for 
"playing"  soldier  during  civil  life.  Our  ex-colonel, 
Addison  Farnsworth,  was  the  first  colonel  under  the 
new  dispensation,  but  he  soon  resigned,  and  was  suc 
ceeded  by  Colonel  John  G.  Shaw,  and  on  his  retiring 
Colonel  Joseph  Laing  was  elected  to  the  vacancy. 
Under  his  energetic  administration  the  old  militia  spirit 
was  for  a  time  revived,  and  the  regiment  bade  fair  to 
resume  its  honorable  place  among  the  citizen  soldiery  of 
the  State,  but,  unfortunately  for  the  desires  and  hopes 
of  the  members,  the  existence  of  the  organization  was 
about  to  end.  The  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  in 
order  to  secure  greater  efficiency  in  the  militia,  had 
decided  to  pursue  a  weeding-out  process,  and  those  regi 
ments  failing,  from  lack  of  numerical  strength,  to  attain 
a  certain  standard  were  ordered  to  be  mustered  out  of 
the  service.  Among  these  was  the  Seventy-Ninth  High 
landers,  -and  although  Colonel  Laing  made  strenuous 
efforts  to  save  his  command,  his  exertions  proved  futile. 
On  the  6th  of  January,  1876,  the  disbandment  took 
place,  and  the  militia  organization  also  passed  into 
history.  When  disbanded  the  officers  were  :  Colonel, 
Joseph  Laing  ;  adjutant,  Thomas  D.  Hughes  ;  surgeon, 
James  Norval ;  chaplain,  Rev.  Stiiner  Merritt,  Jr. ;  cap 
tains,  William  C.  Clark,  Alonzo  Dutch,  Joseph  Ross, 
William  A.  Devon,  William  Lindsay  and  John  H.  Munroe. 


488  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS. 


THE  VETERAN  ORGANIZATION. 


OFFICERS  FOR  1885-86. 

President,  .  .  .  ANDREW  D.  BAIRD. 

No.  130  Hewes  street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Vice-President,         .  .  .  THOMAS  MOORE. 

No.  378  Pearl  street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 
Secretary,  .  .  .  JOSEPH  MATHEWS. 

No.  1080  Fourth  avenue,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Treasurer,      .  .  .  .      JOHN  H.  TENNANT. 

No.  4  Seventh  avenue,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

This  organization,  to  which  all  honorably  discharged 
members  of  the  regiment  are  eligible,  was  formed  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  war.  Quarterly  meetings  are  held, 
and  the  welfare  of  those  of  our  number  unfortunate  in 
civil  life,  carefully  looked  after.  Those  who  have  been 
blessed  with  health  and  a  little  more  wealth  than  is 
necessary  for  their  own  needs,  have  been  liberal  contrib 
utors  to  the  cause  of  charity,  and  the  world  will  never 
know  of  half  that  has  been  dispensed,  for  the  most 
liberal  givers  are  those  who  obey  the  scriptural  injunc 
tion,  and  do  not  let  their  left  hand  know  what  their 
light  hand  giveth. 

On  each  recurring  anniversary  of  our  original  enlist 
ment,  May  13th,  reunions  are  held,  and  as  report  is 
made  of  this,  that  or  the  other  comrade  who  has  received 
his  final  discharge  from  the  ranks,  in  order  to  accept 
promotion  to  the  Grand  Army  above,  the  survivors  are 
reminded  that  the  day  is  approaching  when  the  last  of 
the  Highlanders  shall  be  permitted  to  join  the  great 
majority  who  have  gone  before.  Till  that  time  comes, 
may  each  of  us  ever  bear  in  mind  the  great  principles 


GRANT'S  BURIAL.  489 

for  which  we  suffered  and  fought,  and  for  which  so 
many  of  our  comrades  laid  down  their  lives ;  may  we 
always  remember,  too,  that  the  war  closed  many  years 
ago,  and  that  the  survivors  of  those  over  whom  we  were 
then  victorious  are  now  as  never  before  our  "fellow  cit 
izens  ; "  may  we  know  neither  North  nor  South,  "Rebel" 
nor  "Yankee,"  but,  with  malice  towards  none  and  char 
ity  for  all,  live  and  labor  together  for  the  welfare  of  our 
undivided  country. 

While  these  pages  were  in  preparation  for  the  press, 
word  came  to  us  from  Mount  McGregor  that  our  great 
Captain  was  no  more.  After  a  lingering  illness,  General 
Grant  died  on  the  23d  of  July,  1885. 

The  motto  of  the  Grants— "Stand  fast,  Craigellachie " 
-is  his  eulogy  and  his  epitaph.    His  name  and  his  fame 
in  the  hearts  of  "the  Highlanders,"  and  of  his  country 
men,  whose  country  he  saved,  will  "stand  fast,"  like 
the  cliffs  in  the  heather,  and  gather  glory  with  the 

years. 

Over  sixty  of  the  veterans  of  the  regiment,  with  the 
tattered  fragments  of  the  old  flags  muffled  in  crape,  fol 
lowed  the  General's  remains  to  the  tomb.  They  were 
with  him  at  Vicksburg  and  in  the  Wilderness,  and  they 
were  with  him  at  the  last.  We  close  our.  record  with 
the  Chaplain's  verses,  which  were  recited  by  one  of 
veterans  at  our  meeting  after  the  funeral  : 

GRANT'S  BURIAL. 

BY    CRAMMOND    KENNEDY. 

THEY  rise  to  join  thy  burial  march, 
Thy  valiant  captains  and  the  men 
Who  won  thy  battles  with  their  blood, 

They  rise  to  follow  thee  again— 
To  death  that  seals  thine  endless  fame  — 
They  rise,  the  dead,  unseen   and  dumb, 
From  Lookout  Mountain's  utmost  heights, 
From  Chattanooga's  slopes  they  come. 


490  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS. 

They  come  from  Shiloh,  and  the  ranks 

That  fell  at  Vickshurg  form  again; 
At  Donelson  the  roll  is  called, 

The  Wilderness  is  full  of  men. 
From  grass-grown  fort  and  trench  they  come, 

From  gory  Spottsylvania,  down, 
Cold  Harbor  way,  across  the  James, 

To  Petersburg  and  Richmond  town. 

From  Reseca  and  Kenesaw, 

Atlanta — over  to  the  sea — 
Wherever  broke  the  waves  of  war — 

For  all  our  hosts  were  led  by  thee. 
And  as  they  muster  on  the  fields 

Where  erst  they  lay,  at  rest,  or  dying, 
They  carry  still  the   starry  flag, 

O  man  of  men  that  kept  it  flying ! 

Yes;    from  the  silent  shadowy  land, 

Along  thy  last  triumphal  way, 
With  marshal'd  hosts  that  wore  the  blue 

Come  marshal'd  hosts  that  wore  the  gray  ! 
The  dead  and  living — North  and  South — 

(Such  blessed  glory,  Grant,  is  thine) 
In  love  and  grief   unite  to  make 

Thy  memory  and  death  divine. 


Magnanimous,  thou  could'st  not  stoop 

To  petty,  mean  or  devious  ways; 
Whate'er  bedded,  thou  wert  first 

To  take  the  brunt,  or  share   the  praise. 
Unjustly  blamed,  thou  silence  kept, 

Serene  in  triumph  and  disaster, 
With  all  thy  soul  upon  thy  work, 

And  ever  of  thyself  the  master. 

Thy  faith  was  great -it  never  failed — 

And  thou  didst  labor  and  endure 
As  seeing  the  invisible, 

Unfalt'ring,   undisturb'd,  and  sure. 
Advancing — like  the  tide;    at  bay — 

Like  thine  ancestral  rock  to  stand, 
And  wielding  all  the  nation's  powers 

To  single  purpose  through  the  land. 


"PEACE." 


When  Lee,  the  lion  of  the  South, 

At  Appomattox  vanquish'd  lay, 
And  myriads  hail'd  thee  conqueror, 

Thy  thoughts  from  pride  were  far  away. 
Thy  prayer  was  "Peace,"  and  thou  didst  send 

Thy  pris'ners  home,  that  April  morn, 
When  thou  hadst  fed  them,  and  released 

Both  man  and  horse,   "  to  plow  for  corn." 

Great  Captain,  modest,  patient,  leal, 

Fearless  and  steadfast  as  the  stars, 
Thy  simple  heart  and  spotless  life 

Are  worth  the  glory  of  thy  wars. 
As  ages  come  and  ages  go, 

The  race  of  men  shall  rarely  see 
A  man  in  such  vicissitudes 

Arise  and  bear  himself  like  thee. 


492  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS. 


ROSTER  OF  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 


Owing  to  the  difficulty — nay,  the  almost  impossibility  —  of  making  a  complete 
record  of  the  enlisted  men  who  served  in  the  regiment  during  the  war,  and  for 
other  reasons  not  necessary  to  mention  here,  it  has  been  thought  best  to  attempt 
nothing  more  than  a  roster  of  commissioned  officers.  The  roster  of  New  York 
troops  prepared  by  the  U.  S.  and  State  governments,  the  report  of  the  State 
Adjutant-General  for  1868  —  for  a  copy  of  which  the  author  is  indebted  to  that 
office  —  and  the  muster-out  rolls  of  the  regiment  for  '64  and  '65,  have  been  com 
pared  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  list  complete.  As  in  nearly  every  case  the 
date  of  rank  antedates  that  of  commission  or  muster-in,  the  former  alone  is 
given. 

Names  only  appear  once,  and  under  the  caption  of  highest  rank  attained  in 
the  regiment.  Among  the  line  officers  the  dates  of  intermediate  rank  are  not 
given;  the  authorities  consulted  differed,  and  it  was  found  impracticable  to 
obtain  correct  dates.  It  may  be  understood  that  the  majority  of  captains  and 
first  lieutenants  passed  through  the  lower  grades.  Where  May  3ist,  1864,  is 
given  as  date  of  muster-out  it  indicates  the  end  of  three  years'  service;  that  of 
July  I4th,  1865,  indicates  muster-out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

COLONELS. 

JAMES  CAMERON.  Elected  from  civil  life,  June,  1861;  killed,  while  leading  the 
regiment  in  a  charge  on  the  Henry  Hill,  at  Bull  Run,  Va.,  July  2ist,  1861. 

ISAAC  INGALLS  STEVENS.  Graduated  from  Military  Academy  at  West  Point  in 
1839,  Second  Lieutenant  of  Engineers  ;  First  Lieutenant  in  1840. 
Served  in  the  Mexican  War  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Capture  of  City  of  Mexico. 
Brevetted  Captain  for  gallantry  at  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  and  Major 
for  Chapultepec.  From  1849  to  I%53  was  *n  charge  of  Coast  Survey 
office.  Appointed  Governor  of  Washington  Territory  in  March,  1853, 
and  for  four  years  was  engaged  in  administering  its  affairs,  suppressing 
Indian  revolts  and  making  treaties.  Elected  Delegate  to  Congress  in 
1857  and  served  till  1861,  when  he  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  regiment. 
Brigadier-General  September  28th,  1861;  Major-General  July  4th,  and 
killed  at  Chantilly,  Va.,  September  ist,  1862. 

ADDISON  FARNSWORTH.  A  veteran  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  he  entered  as 
Second  Lieutenant  and  won  the  rank  of  Major.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  the  Thirty-Eighth  N.  Y.  Vols.,  which  he  commanded  at  Bull  Run. 


ROSTER  OF   OFFICERS.  493 

Appointed  Colonel  by  Governor  Morgan,  December  lyth,  1861.  Wounded 
at  Second  Bull  Run,  Va.,  August  3oth,  1862,  and  resigned  in  consequence, 
February  lyth,  1863,  and  was  transferred  to  Invalid  corps.  Brevet  Briga 
dier-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  September  2yth,  1865. 

DAVID  MORRISON.  Captain  of  Company  E,  May  i3th;  Major,  October  31  st; 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  December  3d,  1861;  Colonel,  February  I7th,  1863; 
Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864.  Brevet  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Vols., 
March  I3th,  1865. 

LIEUTENANT-COLONELS. 

SAMUEL  M.  ELLIOT.     May  I3th,   resigned  August  -,  1861.      Brevet  Brigadier- 
General  U.  S.  Vols.,  March  I3th,  1865. 
WILLIAM  NOBLES.     Appointed   from   civil  life  in  November,  and  resignec 

December,  1861. 
JOHN   MORE.     First  Lieutenant  Company  D,  May  I3th;   Captain,  October  2 

1861;   Major,  November  iyth,  1862;   Lieutenant-Colonel,  February  i7th, 
1863.     Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 
HENRY   G.   HEFFRON.     Hospital   Steward   of  the  regiment,   May    I3th; 

Lieutenant   Company   K,  November  2ist,    1861;    Captain,  Company  B, 
September  ist,  1862.     Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864.     Accompame 
detachment    to    the    field    in   June,    1864.      Commissioned    Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  January    26th,    and    mustered  out   July    I4th;     Brevet 
N.  Y.  Vols.,  1865. 

MAJORS. 

DAVID  McLELLAN,May  I3th;   resigned  August  loth,  1861 
FRANCIS  L.HAGADORN.     December  .7th,  186.;  resigned  May  i2th,  '862. 
WILLIAM  ST  GEORGE  ELLIOT.     First  Lieutenant  Company  I,  May  I3th,  II 

clptdn  Company  E,  January  i9th;    Major,  May  ,2th,  comn_d  » 
June;   severely  wounded  at  Chantilly,  September  ist,  and  resigned 
seauence,  September  29th,  1862. 

W.LUAM  S.MVS^N.     Private  Company  C,  May  ,3th,  .86,;  Second  L.eutanan,, 
_-.   FirstLieutenant,  January  ,9th;  Captain  Company  C,  March  27th, 
,862-   Major,  February  ,7th,  ,863.    Mustered  out,  May  3iSt,  ,864. 
ANORKW  D.'BA!.     Private'company  A,  May  ,3th,  ,86, ;    ^0"^— , 

.     First   Lieutenant,  Company  K,  October  l6th,  1862,    Capta 

February  27,h,  ,863.     Mustered  out,  May  3«j  -864.    ^compan.e,  the 
detachment  to  the  field  in  June,  ,864.     Comm.ss.oned  Major  and  I 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  January  26th;  Mustered  out  July  ,4*,  ll 

ENGINEER. 

JOHN  J.  SHAW.    Captain,  M.y  13*.  but  not  mustered;  resigned  June,  ,i 

ADJUTANTS 

(WITH  RANK  OF  FIBST  LIEUTENANT). 

DAVID  IRELAND.     May,3.h.     Promoted  to  captain  in  regu.ar  army  »  August, 
and  transferred  in  September,  1861. 


494  SEVENTY-NINTH  HIGHLANDERS. 

HAZARD  STEVENS.  Volunteer  private,  September  6th;  First  Lieutenant  and 
Adjutant,  September  26th;  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant-General  U.  S. 
Vols.,  October  i Qth,  1861;  Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant-General  U.  S. 
Vols.,  October  ijth ;  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  U.  S.  Vols.,  August  1st; 
Brevet  Colonel  U.  S.  Vols.,  October  iQth,  1864,  and  Brevet  Brigadier- 
General  U.  S.  Vols.,  April  2nd,  1865.  Mustered  out,  September  3Oth,  1865. 

LAWRENCE  BEATTIE.  First  Sergeant  Company  C,  May  I3th;  Adjutant,  October 
i6th,  1861;  resigned,  May  i8th,  1862. 

JOHN  F.  COULTER.  Second  Lieutenant  Company  B,  January  yth;  Adjutant,  May 
1 7th;  resigned,  October  3d,  1862. 

JAMES  GILMOUR.  Second  Lieutenant,  January  igth;  Adjutant,  September  3Oth 
1862.  Captured  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  July  loth,  1863;  escaped,  December 
8th,  and  mustered  out  December  24th,  1864. 

JOHN  SHEARER.    June  15;  mustered  out,  July  I4th,  1865. 

QUARTERMASTERS 

(WITH  RANK  OF  FIRST  LIEUTENANT). 

PATRICK  HOME.     May,  1 3th;   not  mustered;  resigned  June,  1861. 

W.  A.  L.  OSTRANDER.     First  Lieutenant  Company  C,  May  I3th;   Quartermaster, 

June  — ;   resigned  October  3d,  1861. 
GEORGE  D.  MARTIN.     Private  Company  B,  May  1 3th;    Quartermaster,  October 

20th,  1861.     Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 

SURGEONS 

(WITH    RANK  OF  MAJOR). 

JAMES  NORVAL.     May  I3th;    captured  at  Bull  Run,  July  2ist,  while  caring  for 

the  wounded;   resigned  April,  1862. 
JOHN  E.  MCDONALD.     January  23d,    1862.     Transferred  to  regular  army,  April 

I3th,  1863. 
ANDREW  T.   FITCH.      Assistant   Surgeon,   ;     Surgeon,   May  5th,  1863. 

Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 

ASSISTANT  SURGEONS 

(WITH  RANK  OF  FIRST  LIEUTENANT). 

ANDREW  McLETCHiE.     June  26th,  1861;   captured  at  Bull  Run,  while  caring  for 

the  wounded;   resigned  April,  1862. 

ANDREW  MELVILLE.     September  nth,  1862;  resigned  April,  1863. 
DAVID  MACKAY.     May  5th,  1863.     Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 
RICHARD  T.  MEAD.     July  8th,  1863.     Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 

CHAPLAINS 
(WITH  RANK  OF  CAPTAIN)  . 

GEORGE  S.  DOUGHTY.     May  I3th,  not  mustered  ;   resigned  June,  1861. 
PETER  RIZER.     Appointed  in  June  ;  resigned  December  I5th,  1861. 
JAMES  C.  WYATT.     February  20th,  1862  ;  died  July  loth,  1863. 


ROSTER  OF  OFFICERS. 

CRAMMOND  KENNEDY.     September  i6th,  1863  ;  mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864  ; 
Brevet  Major,  N.  V.  Vols. 

BAND  MASTER. 

WILLIAM   ROBERTSON.     First  Lieutenant,  May  I3th,   1861.     Mustered  out,  by 
order  of  War  department,  August  i8th,  1862. 

CAPTAINS. 

ROBERT  ARMOUR.     Private  Company  C,  May  I3th,  1861 ;    Captain  Company  C, 

February  lyth,  1863.     Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 
ALEXANDER  L.  BAIRD.     Private  December  9th,   1861;    rel'nlisted  October  loth, 

1864;  Captain,  January  26th.     Mustered  out,  July  I4th,  1865. 
THOMAS  BARCLAY.     Company  C,  May  I3th;  discharged,  August  I2th,  1861. 
DAVID  BROWN.     Company  D,  May  i3th;    killed  at  Battle  of   Bull  Run,  July 

2ist,  1861. 
ROBERT  CAMPBELL.     First  Lieutenant  Company  H,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain, 

May  1 6th;   resigned,  July  i%3th,  1862. 

JAMES  CHRISTIE.     Company  F,  May  I3th;  dismissed,  September  loth,  1861. 
WILLIAM  C.  CLARK.     Corporal   Company  E,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain,  April 
I5th,   1863;    mustered  out,  May  3ist,    1864.     Brevet  Major,  September 
23d,  1867. 
JAMES  E.  COULTER.     Company  H,  May  1 3th;    resigned,  November  1st,   1861, 

Brevet  Major  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  N.  Y.  Vols. 
ALFRED  DOUGLASS.     Private  Company  D,  August  5th,  1862;    Captain,  May  1st; 

mustered  out,  July  I4th,  1865. 

HENRY  A.  ELLIS.  Company  K,  May  I3th;  transferred  to  Seventeenth  U.  S. 
Infantry,  November  I4th,  1861.  Major  and  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel 
N.  Y.  Vols.,  1865. 

JAMES  A.  FARRISH.  Company  B,  May  1 3th ;  wounded  arid  captured  at  Bull  Run, 
July  2ist,  1861;  exchanged  early  in  1862,  and  resigned  to  accept  promo 
tion,  September  25th,  1862,  when  he  was  appointed  Paymaster,  with  rank 
of  Major  of  Cavalry.  Mustered  out,  January,  1866.  Brevet  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  N.  Y.  Vols. 
ROBERT  GAIR.  First  Sergeant  Company  C,  May  I3th,  1861 ;  Captain,  September 

23d,  1862.     Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 

KEITH  GILMORE.     First  Sergeant  Company  G,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain  Com 
pany  I,  January  2Oth;   resigned  April  iQth,  1863. 
JOHN  GLKNDINNING.     Private  Company  A,  May  I3th,  1861 ;    Captain,  March  6th, 

1863.     Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 
ALEXANDER  GRAHAM.     First  Sergeant  Company  H,  May  I3th,   1861;    Captain, 

January  iQth,  1862;   resigned  April  28th,  1863. 

TAMES  INNES.  Private  Company  I,  September  26th,  1861;  mustered  out,  Sep 
tember  26th,  and  reenlisted  October  8th,  1864;  Captain,  January  26th; 
mustered  out,  July  I4th,  1865. 


496  SEVENTY-NINTH   HIGHLANDERS. 

WALTER  B.  IVES.  Second  Lieutenant  Company  G,  May  I3th;  captured  at  Bull 
Run,  July  2ist,  1861 ;  Captain,  February  28th,  1862;  dismissed,  March 
6th,  1863. 

FRANCIS  W.  JUDGE.  Private  Company  K,  May  I3th,  1861;  mustered  out,  as 
First  Sergeant,  May  3ist,  1864.  Reenlisted  February  8th;  Captain,  Feb 
ruary  2ist;  mustered  out,  July  I4th,  1865.  BreVet  Major  N.  Y.  Vols. 

JAMES  S.  KING.  Enlisted  October  7th,  1864;  Captain,  June  I5th,  and  mustered 
out  July  I4th,  1865. 

JOSEPH  LAING.  Company  G,  May  I3th;  severely  wounded  at  Bull  Run,  July 
2ist,  1 86 1.  Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 

WILLIAM  T.  LUSK.  Captain  Company  K,  January  iQth,  1862;  resigned  February 
28th,  1863. 

WILLIAM  MANSON.  Company  A,  May  I3th;  captured  at  Bull  Run,  July  2ist, 
1861;  exchanged, —  — ;  resigned,  March  29th,  1862. 

KENNETH  MATHIESON.  First  Lieutenant  Company  C,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain, 
January  I9th;  discharged  March  28th,  1862. 

JAMES  McLEAN.  Private  Company  — ,  August  28th,  1862;  Captain,  January 
26th;  mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 

ROBERT  McNiE.  First  Lieutenant  Company  F,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain, 
— ;  resigned  May  i8th,  1862. 

WILLIAM  S.MONTGOMERY.  Sergeant  Company  F,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain, 
June  2yth,  1862.  Mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 

GEORGE  W.  PIER.  Second  Lieutenant  Company  I,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain, 
May  1 2th;  discharged  September  25th,  1862. 

ROBERT  T.  SHILLINGLAW.  Captain  Company  I,  May  I3th;  wounded  and  cap 
tured  at  Bull  Run,  July  2ist,  1861;  resigned  January  2oth,  1863. 

SAMUEL  F.  WALLACE.  Private  Company  D,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain  Company 
H,  April  28th,  1863;  mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864. 

JOHN  WINDSOR.  Sergeant-.Major,  May  I3th,  1861;  Captain  Company  D, 
—  ;  mustered  out  May  3 1st,  1864. 

HUGH  YOUNG.  Private  Company  F,  June,  1862;  Captain,  June  I5th,  and 
resigned  June  26th,  1865. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

SAMUEL  ALLEYNE.     April  8th;  mustered  out  July  i4th,  1865. 

NATHAN  K.  ARNOLD.     Private,  December  22nd,  1862;    First  Lieutenant  January 

26th;   mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 

JAMES  B.  AYRES.    Company  E,  May  I3th;   discharged  August  ist.  1861. 
PAUL  BRODIE.     Private  Company  F,  May  I3th,  1861;  First  Lieutenant  July  9th; 

transferred  to  Signal  Corps  March  3d,  1863. 

ROBERT  CAMPBELL.     Company  H,  May  I3th,  1861;  resigned  July  i6th,  1862. 
ROBERT  M.CLARK.     Sergeant  Company  A,  May  I3th,  1861;   First  Lieutenant 

January  igth;   resigned  November  I2th,  1862. 
JAMES  L.  DICK.     Company  G,  May  I3th,  1861;  resigned 1861. 


ROSTER  OF  OFFICERS.  407 

JOHN  S.  DINGWALL.     Corporal  Company  A,  May  ijth,  1861;   First  Lieutenant 

Company  K,  February  27th,  1863;   mustered  out  May  jist,  1864. 
JAMES  DONALDSON.     Private  Company  D,  May   I3th,  1861;    First  Lieutenant 

April  I5th,  1863;   mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864. 

SAMUEL  R.  ELLIOT.    Company  K,  May  I3th;  resigned  September,  1861. 
DAVID  G.  FALCONER.     Second  Lieutenant  Company  B,  May  I3th,  1861;   First 

Lieutenant  February  28th;  wounded  at  Antietam,  September  lyth,  1862; 

transferred    to    staff  duty  as  A.   A.    I.    G.  in    March,   and   to    Veteran 

Reserv*  Corps  July  2Oth,  1863;   mustered  out  July  2Oth,  1866. 
JOHN  A.  FALCONER.     Second  Lieutenant  Company  D,  May   I3th,  1861;   First 

Lieutenant  January  iQth;   resigned  March,  1862. 

JAMES  W.  FLANNELEY.     November  i8th,  1864;  mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 
FRANCIS  GALLAGHER.     Private,  December  24th,  1863;   First  Lieutenant,  January 

26th;   mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 
WILLIAM  GRAY.     Private  Company  C,  May  I3th,  1861 ;  First  Lieutenant,  July  4th, 

1863;   transferred  to  First  U.  S.  Heavy  Artillery,  colored,  February,  1864. 
GAVIN  HAMILTON.     First  Sergeant  Company  E,  May  1301,  1861;   First  Lieuten 
ant,  January  igth;   discharged  May  i6th,  1862. 
THOMAS  HAMILTON.     Private  Company  E,  May  1 3th,  1861;    First  Lieutenant, 

February  xyth,  1863;   mustered  out,  May  3ist,  1864. 
GEORGE  HOWIESON.     Private  Company  C,   May  1 3th,    1861;    First   Lieutenant, 

April  28th,  1863;   mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864. 
GEORGE  H.  LADLEY.     Private  Company  G,  May  1 3th,   1861;    First  Lieutenant, 

December  loth,  1863;   mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864. 
CHARLES   LOWEN.     Private   Company  B,    February  nth,  1862;     mustered   out 

February    nth,   reenlisted;     First   Lieutenant,    May    ist;    mustered  out 

July  I4th,  1865. 
DAVID  J.  MALLON.     Private  Company  E,  May  1 3th,   1861;    mustered  out  ! 

3ist,  1864.     Reenlisted;   First  Lieutenant,  June  3Oth;   mustered  out  July 

I4th,  1865. 
DANIEL  E.  MANTON.     Corporal  Company  I,  May  1 3th,   1861;    1 

Company  C,  July  joth,  1862;   discharged  February  24th,  1863. 
JAMES  McGiFFEN.     Private  Company  I,  May  I3th,  1861;   First  Lieutenant,  March 

6th,  1863;   mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864. 
JOHN  R.  MEXZIES.     First  Sergeant  Company  A,  May  i3thf  1861;   First  Lieuten- 

ant,  November  I2th,  1862;   resigned  April  22nd,  1863. 

WILLIAM  H.  MORRISON.     Company  A,  May  i3th;  resigned  September  5th,  1 86 1. 
JAMES  J.  REID.     Private  Company  B,  May  I3th,  1861 ;   First  Lieutenant,  Septem- 

ber  30th,  1862;   resigned  April  28th,  1863. 

THOMAS  W  ROBERTSON.    Corporal  Company  I,  May  i3th,  1861;   First  Lieuten 
ant,   May    1 6th;     resigned  August  25th,    1862,    on   account  of  wounds 

received  at  James  Island,  June  i6th,  1862. 

TAMES  CHARLES  Ross.     April  8th;  mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 
JOHN  H.  TENNANT.     Private,  August  28th,  1862;   First  Lieutenant,  January  26 

mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 


498  SEVENTY-NINTH    HIGHLANDERS. 

CHARLES  WATSON.     Private  Company  C,  May  i3th,   1861;    First   Lieutenant 

February  I7th,  1863;   mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864. 
JOHN  WHITE.     Company  A;   resigned  August,  1862. 
JOHN  WHYTE.     Private  Company  K,  May  I3th,  1861;    First  Lieutenant,  August 

ist,  1863;   mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864. 
JOHN  WHYTE.     Company  B,  May  I3th,  1861;  resigned  July  3Oth,  1862. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS. 

EDWARD  BALUSTER.     Company  K,  May  I3th;   resigned  July  I4th,  1861. 

EDWARD  BRIER.     January  26th;   mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 

ROBERT  CALDERWOOD.     Private  Company  A,  May  I3th,  1861;    Second  Lieuten 
ant,  May  1 6th,  1862;   resigned  May  yth,  1863. 

ALEXANDER  CAMPBELL.     Private  Company  F,  May  I3th,  1861;   Second  Lieuten 
ant,  September  23d,  1862;   discharged  April  28th,  1863. 

•GARRETT  S.  CONOVER.     Private  Company  D,  May   I3th,  1861;    Second  Lieuten 
ant,  January  iQth;   resigned  May  2ist,  1862. 

WILLIAM  B.  DRAKE.     Company  H,  May  I3th;  resigned  August  2nd,  1861. 

WALTER  FITZSIMMONS.     Private  Company  D,  May  I3th,  1861;    Second  Lieuten 
ant,  June  27th,  1862;   discharged  April  28th,  1863. 

ALEXANDER  FRAZER.     Sergeant  Company  I,  May  I3th,  1861;   Second   Lieuten 
ant,  May  23d;   discharged  September  25th,  1862. 

ROBERT  GARDNER.    Second  Lieutenant,  September  22nd;   discharged  November 
26th,   1864. 

JOHN  R.  HUNTER.     Private  Company  A,  May  1 3th,   1861;   Second   Lieutenant, 
January  I9th;   resigned  May  I2th,  1862. 

HENRY  HUTCHINSON.     Private  Company  F,  May  I3th,    1861;     Second  Lieuten 
ant,  November  iyth,  1862;   mustered  out  May  3 1st,  1864. 

JAMES   KINNEAR.     Company   E,   January   yth;     died  June    i8th,  from  wounds 
received  at  James  Island,  June  i6th,  1862. 

FREDERICK  KOCHERT.     Sergeant  Company  B,   May   i3th,   1861;      Second  Lieu 
tenant,  May  i6th;   resigned  November  I2th,  1863. 

ROBERT  MARSHALL.     First    Sergeant   Company  K,  May  I3th  ,    1861;    Second 
Lieutenant,  January  iQth;   resigned  April  I4th,  1862. 

JOHN    MACPHERSON.    Company  A,  May  1 3th;  resigned  August  ist,  1861. 

CHARLES  RILEY.     Private  Company  K,  May  I3th,   1861;     Second   Lieutenant, 
April  28th,  1863;   mustered  out  May  3ist,  1864. 

GEORGE  ROBINSON.     May  ist;  mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 

WILLIAM  S.  Ross.     Corporal  Company  K,  May  1 3th,  1861;   Second  Lieutenant, 

May  1 6th;   resigned  September  27th,  1862. 
JAMES  B.  SINCLAIR.     Company  E,   May  I3th;     promoted    to     First  Lieutenant, 

Fourteenth  U.  S.  Infantry,  October  26th,  1861. 

RICHARD  SUNDERLAND.     Private  Company  C,  May  I3th,  1861;    Second  Lieuten 
ant,  December  nth;   dismissed  January  I5th,  1863. 

CHARLES  SYME.    First  Sergeant,  May  I3th,  1861 ;   Second  Lieutenant,  Septembe  r 
24th,  1862;   discharged  April  22nd,  1863. 


REGIMENTAL  STATISTICS.  41 W 

JAMES  TAYLOR.  First  Sergeant  Company  D,  May  I3th;  Second  Lieutenant, 
;  resigned  October  i8th,  1861. 

JOHN  P.  TURNER.  Private  Company  B,  February  iith,  1862;  Second  Lieuten 
ant,  January  26th;  mustered  out  July  I4th,  1865. 

JAMES  WITHERSPOON.     Company  G,  May  I3th;  resigned  August  I4th,  1861. 


EEGIMENTAL  STATISTICS. 


Up  to  the  muster-out  of  the  three-years  men  at  the  expiration  of  their  term  of 
service,  in  May,  1864,  there  had  been  enrolled  in  the  regiment  105  officers  and 
1,269  enlisted  men,  making  a  total  of  1,374,  who  are  accounted  for  as  follows: 

Killed  in  action  and  died  of  wounds 108 

Died  of  disease 82 

Officers  transferred,  resigned,  discharged  and  dismissed  previous  to  May, 

1864 76 

Enlisted  men  discharged  by  reason  of  disability  caused  by  wounds  or  sick 
ness,  and  for  all  other  causes,  and  including  deserters 747 

Officers  mustered  out  May  31,  1864 29 

Enlisted  men  "          "     215 

Enlisted  men  who  had  not  completed  their  term  of  enlistment 117 

1,374 

Owing  to  the  absence  of  complete  files  of  monthly  returns  at  the  Adjutant  Gen 
eral's  office,  at  Albany,  it  has  been  impossible  to  obtain  a  complete  list  of 
wounded,  but  taking  the  usual  proportion,  based  on  the  number  killed  in  action, 
would  give,  for  the  first  three  years'  service,  about  four  hundred  and  fifty. 

The  unusually  small  proportion  of  deaths  from  disease  is  a  marked  feature  of 
the  record  of  the  Highlanders,  and  was  frequently  commented  upon  by  the 
medical  staff  during  our  term  of  service.  A  partial  explanation  may  be  found 
on  page  107.  It  was  also  noted  that  men  from  the  cities  exhibited  a  greater 
amount  of  endurance,  and  were  less  liable  to  disease  than  those  from  the  country. 
During  the  second  period  of  the  regiment's  service,  from  June,  1864,  to  July, 
1865,  there  were  enrolled  in  the  six  companies  (including  100  men  of  the  117 
noticed  above  who  returned  to  the  field  to  serve  out  their  time),  19  officers  and 
590  enlisted  men,  total,  609,  accounted  for  as  follows : 

Officers  resigned  or  discharged  previous  to  July  14,  1865 4 

Enlisted  men  mustered  out  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service,  and 

for  other  causes,  and  including  deserters 3IQ 

Officers  mustered  out  July  14,  1865 

Enlisted  men  mustered  out  July  14,  1865 - _ 

609 


GENERAL   STATISTICS. 


COMPARATIVE  STATEMENT  OF  THE  NUMBER  OF  MEN  FURNISHED,  AND  OF  THE 
DEATHS  IN  THE  UNION  ARMY  DURING  THE  WAR. 


STATES,  TERRITORIES,  ETC. 

MEN   FURNISHED. 

Aggre 
gate  of 
deaths. 

345 

'573 
323 
5.354 

882 
290 
215 
15 
34.834 
26,672 
13,001 

'945 
9,398 
2,982 
13.942 
14,7^3 
2,584 
78 
13.885 
239 

5,7  =  4 
277 

4  '356o 
35,475 
45 

1,321 
6,777 
141 
5,224 

42 

22 

4,OI7 
12,301 
i,  01  8 

136,847 
1,672 
1  06 
552 
24? 
239 
232 
5,798 

White 
troops. 

Sailors 
and 
Marines 

Colored 
troops. 

Indi 
ans. 

Total. 

2,576 
8,289 
1  5.725 
4,903 
55,864 
206 
12,284 

8,289 

51  '206 
11,236 

2,163 

1,764 

Dakota 

Delaware  

94 

954 
3,269 

Florida                                                            ;          i  200  ' 

1,290 

in-      •     

255,057 

2,224 

1,811 

259,092 
196,363 
76,242 
20,149 
75,76o 
5,224 
70,107 
46,638 
146,730 
87,364 
24,020 
545 
109,111 

3,157 
i,  080 

33,937 
76,814 
6,561 
448,850 

313^80 
I,  BIO 

337,936 
23,236 
31,092 
1,965 
33,288 

75,797 

5 

440 



3U 

23,703 



5,224 
64.973 

33,995 
122,781 
85,479 
23,913 
545 
100,616 

3>T57 
i  080 

Maine  

5,030 

3,925 
19.983 
498 
3 

104 

3,966 
1,387 
104 

Massachusetts    

'*  ** 

151 

8,344     

Nebraska 

32,93° 
67,500 
6,561 
409,561 

882 
8,129 

125 
1,185 



New  York 

35.i64 

4,125 

Ohio 

304,814 
1,810 

3,274 

5,092 

ig'.S2! 
31,092 

1^878 

8,612    
1,837    

Rhode  Island  

Texas 

Vermont  

32,549 

619 

1  20    

Washington  

964 
31,872 
91,029 

'96 
165 

3,53° 

964 
32,068 
9L327 
3,530 
*99,337 

133 

Colored  Troops  





99,337 

Veteran  Reserve  Corps  
U.  S.  Veteran  Vols.  (Hancock's  Corps) 
U.  S.  Vol.  Engineers  and  Sharpshooters 

Gen'l  and  gen'l  staff  officers,  U.  S.  Vols. 
M  iscel's  U.S.  Vols.  (brigade  bands,  &c.) 
Regular  Army  

Grand  aggregate  

2,494,592 

101,207 

178,975 

3,530 

2,778,304     359,528 

*  Number  not  credited  upon  the  quotas  of  any  State. 

t  Includes  losses  in  all  colored  organizations  excepting  three  regiments  from  Massachusetts. 

(500) 


GENERAL  STATISTICS.  501 

EXPLANATORY  NOTES. 

With  the  exception  of  three  Massachusetts  regiments  (organized  and  officered  exclusively  by 
the  State  authorities),  whose  casualties  are  included  with  those  of  the  white  troops  from  that  State, 
all  losses  in  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  seventy-five  colored 
troops  are  reported  separately,  irrespective  of  any  credits  allowed  upon  the  quotas  of  the  States. 
The  deaths  in  the  excepted  regiments  aggregated  574. 

In  all  other  cases  the  figures  in  the  column  of  deaths  represent  only  such  as  occurred  among  the 
•white  troops  and  Indians.  Information  relative  to  the  number  of  deaths  in  the  Navy  and  Marine 
Corps  belongs  to  the  Navy  Department. 

The  colored  soldiers  organized  under  the  direct  authority  of  the  General  Government,  and  not 
credited  to  any  State,  were  recruited  as  follows  : 

In  Alabama,  4,969;  Arkansas,  5,526;  Colorado,  95;  Florida,  1,044;  Georgia,  3,486;  Louisiana, 
24,052;  Mississippi,  17,869;  North  Carolina,  5,035;  South  Carolina,  5,462;  Tennessee,  20,133; 
Texas,  47;  Virginia,  5,723- 

There  were  also  5,896  negro  soldiers  enlisted  at  large,  or  whose  credits  are  not  specifically  ex 
pressed  by  the  records. 

Of  the  number  of  colored  troops  credited  to  the  States,  5,052  were  obtained,  under 
visions  of  section  3,  act  of  Congress,  approved  July  4,  1864,  from  the  States  that  had  seceded. 

The  number  of  officers  and  men  of  the  Regular  Army  among  whom  the  casualties  herein  noted 
occurred  is  estimated  at  67,000;  the  number  in  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  was  60,508;  and  in 
Hancock's  Veteran  Corps,  10,883, 

The  other  organizations  of  white  volunteers,  organized  directly  by  the  United  States  authoni  m, 
numbered  about  11,000. 

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,         j 
Washington,  July  15,  1885.  } 

Approved,  and  will  be  printed  as  a  supplement  to  the  statistical  exhibit  of  deaths  in  the  U.  S. 
Army  during  the  late  war.  R  c  DRUM> 

Adjutant-General. 


From  Colonel  Frederick  Phisterer's  volume  (Statistical  Record),  "  Campaigns 
of  the  Civil  War,"  we  gather  some  interesting  facts :  There  were  over  2,260 
separate  engagements  fought  in  35  States  and  Territories.  Of  these  600  occurred 
in  Virginia  and  West  Virginia  alone;  298  in  Tennessee,  244  in  Missouri,  li 
Mississippi,  167  in  Arkansas,  138  in  Kentucky,  118  in  Louisiana,  and  108  in 
Georgia.  A  list  is  given  of  149  battles,  in  each  of  which  the  Union  loss  was  over 
500  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  We  notice  also  in  this  volume  that  the 
Regular  Army  register  shows :  I  General,  2  Lieutenant-Generals,  I  Brevet  Lieu- 
tenant-General,  II  Major-Generals,  152  Brevet  Major-Generals,  36  Brigadier- 
Generals,  and  187  Brevet  Brigadier-Generals.  The  Volunteer  Army  register 
shows:  128  Major-Generals,  228  Brevet  Major-Generals,  561  Brigadier-Generals, 
and  i  1 70  Brevet  Brigadier-Generals.  Many  of  the  latter,  however,  were  Colonels 
near  and  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  received  the  brevet  after  the  war  closed, 
as  a  reward  for  faithful  services  in  the  field. 

The  magnitude  of  the  operations  carried  on  during  the  war  may  be  further 
illustrated  by  the  following  account,  taken  from  tables  prepared  by  Lieutenant 
Totten,  U.  S.  A.,  of  the  number  of  men  in  the  Union  army,  the  total  being  an 
average  strength : 


502 


GENERAL  STATISTICS. 


Regular  troops 22,929 

White  volunteers 741,507 

Colored  volunteers 42>339 

Total    806,775 

The  losses  have  been  tabulated  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Kirkley,  an  experienced  statis 
tician  in  the  Adjutant-General's  office,  and  show: 

Officers.  Men.  Aggregate. 

Killed  or  died  of  wounds 6,365  103,673  1 10,038 

Died  of  disease 2,795  221,791  224,586 

Drowned 106  4)838  4>944 

Other  accidental  deaths    142  3>972  4»IJ4 

Murdered    37  487  524 

Killed  after  capture 14  86  100 

Committed  suicide 26  ^65  391 

Executed 267  267 

Executed  by  enemy 4  60  64 

Died  from  sunstroke 5  308  3 1 3 

Other  known  causes 62  1,972  2,034 

Causes  not  stated   28  12,093  12,121 

Totals 9,584  349,912  359,496 

From  the  above  we  learn  that  over  sixty  per  cent,  of  the  loss  in  officers  was 
caused  by  being  "  killed  or  died  of  wounds,"  while  among  the  enlisted  men  the 
proportion  was  only  thirty  per  cent.  Officers  were  more  frequently  the  marks  for 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  and,  according  to  their  numbers,  were  more  exposed 
in  battle  than  the  men  in  the  ranks. 

In  the  "died  of  disease  "  the  percentage  is  reversed,  that  of  the  officers  being 
thirty,  while  among  the  enlisted  men  it  is  about  sixty-three  per  cent.  Officers 
were  surrounded  by  more  comforts,  and  were  less  exposed  to  the  elements,  and 
consequently  were  in  a  position  to  take  better  care  of  themselves.  The  great  loss 
by  disease  illustrates  the  well-known  truth,  that  in  war  more  men  die  of  disease 
than  are  killed  by  the  enemy.  In  the  present  case  the  fact  of  the  Union  soldiers 
serving  in  a  climate  to  which  they  were  unaccustomed  should  also  be  taken  into 
consideration  and  the  large  proportion  of  such  deaths  is  easily  accounted  for. 

The  above  lists  do  not  include  the  numbers  enrolled  nor  losses  in  the  Navy. 
In  order  also  to  arrive,  even  approximately,  at  the  total  loss  of  life  among  soldiers 
during  the  War,  it  is  necessary  to  include  the  casualties  in  the  Confederate  Army. 
While  their  losses  in  battle  may  have  been  about  the  same  as  in  the  Union  Army, 
they  suffered  much  less  from  disease;  but  the  aggregate,  even  at  the  lowest  esti 
mate,  is  appalling. 


INDEX. 


NAMES  of  regimental  officers  which  do  not  occur  in  the  narrative  are  not  indexed,  but  may 
be  found  in  the  roster. 

***  A  few  errors  which  have  been  discovered  in  the  text  are  corrected  in  the  index. 


A  cold  night,  283. 

Acquia  Creek,  22,  23,  29,  179,  256, 
272. 

Addison,  Geo.T.  (Commanded  a  com 
pany  in  the  militia  regt.  when  mus 
tered  out,  Jan.,  1876.) 

Adventure  in  Wilderness,  452. 

Alarm,  first  night,  n. 

A  last  request,  385,  393. 

Alexander,  Col.,  394,  395. 

Alexander,  Tennessee  family,  347. 

Alexandria,   Va.,    14,    225,   439,   471, 

485- 

"  Alhambra,"  the,  293. 
Alleghany  Mts.,  434. 
Allen,  last  white  man  at  Beaufort,  107. 
A  loud  call,  390. 
Altoona,  Pa.,  434. 
Anderson,  Geo.  T.,  397. 
Anderson,  R.  H.,  448,  457,  458. 
Annapolis,  Md.,  88,  434,  et  seq. 
Antietam,  battle  of,  237-245. 
Antietam  Iron  Works,  246. 
A  peculiar  case,  377. 
Apples  and  bullets.  217. 
Appomattox  river,  Va.,  483. 
Arlington  Heights,  Va.,  8,  71, 


226. 


Robert,  254,   265,   310,   348, 


Armour, 

350. 
Armstrong's   house,  Tenn.,  364,    370, 

385,  396- 

Army  of  N.  E.  Va.,  17  et  seq. 

Army  of  Va.,  Pope's,  182  et  seq. 

Army  of  N.  Va.,  Confed.,  184  et  seq., 
443  et  seq. 

Army  of  the  Cumberland,  355. 

Army  of  the  James,  476,  479. 

Army  of  the  Ohio  (see  E.  Tenn.  Cam 
paign.) 

Army  of  the  Potomac.,  Confed.,  22  et  \ 
seq. 

Army  of  the   Potomac,  Union,   71    et 
seq.,  179,  226  et  seq.,  436  et  seq. 

Atlanta,  Ga  ,  441,  442- 


Atlantic,  steamer,  179. 
A  wet  march,  291. 
Ayres'  battery,  24,  30. 
Ayres,  Jas.  B.,  4. 

Badeau,   Adam,    305,    321,   450,   468, 

469,  476. 

Baird,  Alex.  L.,  481,486. 
Baird,  Andrew  D.,  389,  462,  468,  474, 

475,  476,  480,  488. 
Baker,  Capt.,  81. 
Baker,  E.  D.,  72. 
Balaklava,  421. 
Balloon  observations,  145. 
Ballot  for  Governor  (1862),  250. 
Ball's  Ford,  23. 

Baltimore  &  O.  R.  R.,  277  et  seq. 
Baltimore,  Md.,  6,  7,  276,  434,  471. 
Band  (see  Robertson,  \V.) 
Banks'  Ford,  268. 
Banks,  N.  P.  185,  227,  278,  441. 
Barboursville,  Ky.,  331. 
Barclay,  Thos.,  4. 
Barnett's  Ford,  1 86. 
Barry,  W.  F.,  36. 
Bartow,  F.  S.,  32,  34. 
Battery  Billingslee,  367. 

Battery  Galpin,  367. 

Battery  Island,  S.  C,  137  et  seq. 

Battery  Noble,  367. 

Battery  Wiltsee,  367. 

Battery  Zoellner,  367. 

Battle  Creek,  Ala,  343. 

Battle  for  rails,  254. 

Bayonet  charge,  a,  462. 

Bay  Point,  S.  C.,  95  et  seq. 

Bealton,  Va.,  254,  443. 

Bean  Station,  Tenn.,  407. 

Beaufort,  S.  C.,   107,   114  et  seq.,  169, 
171. 

Beauregard,  G.T.,  22,  23,  26,  29,  30,  43. 

Beds,  too  soft,  433. 

Bee,  B.  E.,  32,  34. 

Belcher,  H.,  220,  284,  325. 


504 


INDEX. 


Belle  Plain,  Va.,  471. 

Benham,  II.  W.,  149,  160,  163,  164. 

Benjamin,  S.  N.,  Battery  E.,  2nd  U.  S. 
Art.,  24,  48,  182,  197',  198,  218,  227, 
238,  250,  301,  314,  315,  358,  363, 
364,  367-369,  376,  383,  389,  397, 
401. 

Berlin,  Md.,  249. 

Berry,  H.  G..  223. 

Beverly  farm,  Va.,  460  et  seq. 

Big  Black,  river,  Miss.,  307. 

Big  Sunflower,  river,  Miss.,  303. 

Birdsong's  Ferry,  Miss.,  304,  307. 

Birney,  D.  B.,  221,  223,  224. 

Biscuit  and  tobacco  juice,  334. 

Blackburn's  Ford,  Va.,    23,    24,    191, 

193,  194- 

"  Black  Horse  "  Cavalry,  42. 
Black,  R.  M.,  41. 
Blackwater,  river,  Va.,  275. 
Blaine's  Cross  Roads,  Tenn.,  406,  409 

et  seq. 

Blenker,  Louis,  43. 
Blue  Grass  region,  Ky.,  430. 
Blue  Ridge  Mts.,  250,  444. 
Blue  Springs,  battle  of,  340—342. 
Bolton,  Col.,  482. 
Bolton,  Miss.,  310,  319. 
Bowen,  Col.,  475. 
Boyle,  Gen'l,  286. 
"  Boy  Preacher,"  342. 
Bragg,  B.,  331,  355,  381,  382,  394. 
Branch,  L.  O'B.,  222-224. 
Brearley,  W.  H.,  360,  372,  373. 
Breckenridge,  J.  C,  306. 
"  Breetish"  soldiers,  4,  26,  34. 
Brickyard  Point,  S.  C.,  108  et  seq. 
Bristoe,  Va.,  190,  192,  193,  439. 
Brockenbrough,  J.  M.,  223. 
Brock  road,  in  Wilderness,  449,  458. 
Brown,  David,  4,  38,  50. 
Brownlow,  W.  G.,  337. 
Brownsville  road,  Miss.,  306,  307. 
Bryan,  B ,  395. 

Buckley's  battery,  361,  368,  369,  401. 
Buckner,  S.  B.,  331. 
Buckstone,  Surgeon,  42. 
Buena  Vista,  421. 
Bull  Run,  battle  of,  29-49. 
"  Bull  Run  "  Russell,  43. 
Bull  Run,  Second  battle  of,  194-209. 
Bull  Run,  Va.,  22,  23,  25,  33,  44. 
Bull's  Gap,  Tenn.,  339,  409,  423. 
"  Bummers,"  270,  271. 
Burkesville  Junction,  Va.,  484. 
Burnside's  Bridge,  237  et  seq. 


Burnside.A.  E.,  43,  176,  182,  227,  237, 
238,  241,  247,  251,  252,  255  et  seq., 
274,  276,  277,  294,  330,  335,  337, 
340,  345,  354  et  seq.,  364,  401,  404- 
408,  436,  449,  467,  469,  476. 

Burnside's  peripatetic  geography  class, 
295. 

Burns,  W.  W.,  254,  264,  265. 

Burrage,  H.  S.,  358,  408. 

Butler,  B.  F.,  17,  441,  475. 

Cabins,  negro,  102. 

Cairo,  111.,  296,  324. 

Caledonian  Society,  472. 

Cameron,  James,  13,  14,  19,  37,  38,  41, 

42,  50,  56,  58. 
Cameron,  Roderick  W.,  5. 
Cameron,  Simon,  13,  56,  58,  83,  273. 
Campbell,  Alex.,  142. 
Campbell,  Jos.,  381. 
Campbell,  Lieut,  142. 
Campbell,  Robt.,  4. 
Campbellsville,  Ky.,  286. 
Camp  Dick  Robinson,  Ky.,  325,  432. 
Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  432. 
Camps  of  the  Highlanders: 

Camp  Advance,  72  et  seq. 

Camp  Big  Chestnut,  84  et  seq. 

Camp  Causten,  68  et  seq. 

Camp  Ewen,  54  et  seq. 

Camp  Hope,  69  et  seq. 

Camp  Lochiel,  \^etseq. 

Camp  Stevens,  114. 

Camp  Weed,  16  et  seq.,  48. 
Canal,  opp.  Vicksburg,  297. 
Cape  Hatteras,  92. 
Cape  Henry,  173. 
Carlisle's  battery,  29,  30. 
Carruth,  S.,  242. 

Carter  house,  at  Bull  Run,  33,  34,  205. 
Castle  Pinckney,  51. 
Catlet  Station,  Va.,  440. 
Cavalry,  infantry  attack,  421. 
Cavalry  repulsed,  42,  46. 
Cave  well,  the,  Ky.,  325. 
Cedar  Mountain,  Va.,  185. 
Centralia,  111.,  295. 
Centreville,  Va.,   21  et  seq.,  194,  207  et 

seq.,  439. 

Chain  Bridge,  71,  72,  88. 
Chancellorsville,  Va.,  444. 
Chantilly,  battle  of,  215-225. 
Chaplain's  hymn,  the,  344. 
Charleston  and  Savannah  R.  R.,  129. 
Charleston  Highlanders,  109,  142,  163. 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  51,  137,  165. 


INDEX. 


Chasseurs,  First  U.  S.,  76  (65th  N.  Y. 

Vols). 

Chattanooga,  Term.,  343,  401,  426. 
Chats  with  enemy,  398. 
Chesapeake  Bay,  179,  276. 
Chinn  house,  at  Bull  Run,  35,  (see  map 

No.  7.) 

Christ,  B.C.,  129-131,199,227,361,438. 
Christie,  James,  4. 
Chucky  Bend,  Tenn.,  425. 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  280,  324,  432-434. 
City  Point,  Va.,  485. 
Clark,  \V.  S.,  242. 

Clark,  W.  C.,  221,  233,  234,  316,  487. 
Ciarke,  Benj.,  140. 
Clarke,  T.  W.,  420. 
Clinch  Mt.,  333. 
Clinch  river.  333,  350,  352,  428. 
Clinton,  Tenn.,  428. 
Clinton  road,  Tenn.,  370. 
Cob-meal  bread,  402. 
Cocke,  P.  St.  Geo.,  31. 
Coffee,  substitute  for,  374. 
Colburn,  A.  V.,  64. 
Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  479. 
Cold  water,  cost  of,  174. 
College  Hill,  Tenn.,  367,  368. 
Colored  troops,  170,  297,  437,  443. 
Colors,  captured  from  enemy,  392. 

Colors,  Highlanders  deprived  of,  66. 

Colors  presented,  5,  349. 

Colors  restored  to  Highlanders,  80. 

Columbia,  Ky.,  287,  292. 

Columbia,  S.  C.,  51. 

Columbus,  Ky.,  297. 

Columbu*,  Ohio,  434. 

Concerts,  60,  122,  124,  285. 

Confederate  "scrip,"  180. 

Congress,  frigate,  174. 

Congress,  U.  S.,  408,  435. 

Connelly,  "  Big  Judge,"  250. 

Cook's  battery,  230,  231. 

Coosaw  river,  S.  C.,  108  et  seq. 

Corcoran,  M.,  42. 

Corn,  green,  as  medicine,  308. 

Corn,  grinding,  102,  406,  412. 

Corn,  "  King,"  322. 

Corn  mush,  407,  412. 

Corporal  Gallagher,  70. 

Cosmopolitan,  steamer,  171. 

Cotton   bales,   as  defences,    317,   371 

383,  389,  390- 

Couch,  D.  N.,  227,  263,  264. 
Coulter,  James  E.,  4. 
Covington,  Ky.,  324,  432,  433. 
Cox,  J.  D.,  230,  232,  238,  247. 


Crab  Orchard,  Ky.,  325. 

"  Crackers,"  (Martin,  J.  S.),  465. 

Crampton's  Gap,  Md.,  236. 

Crane,  Jno.  W.,  165. 

"  Cremation,"  349. 

Crook,  Geo.,  238,  241. 

Cuba,  Ky.,  429. 

Cub  Run,  Va.,  29,  44,  45,  207,  208. 

Culpeper,  Va.,  184,  436,  441  . 

Cumberland  Ford,  Ky.,  331. 

Cumberland,  frigate,  174. 

Cumberland  river,  287,  331. 

Cumberland  village,  Ky.,  331. 

Dalrymple,  James,  380. 

Danville,  Ky.,  283. 

Davies  (not  Davis), T.  A.,  43. 

Davis,  Jefferson,  49. 

Davis,  Joe.,  311. 

Davis,  R.  B.,  24. 

"  Dead  Man's  Corner,"  236. 

Deep  Run,  Va.,  263,  264. 

Delaware,  steamer,  167. 

Denham,  Thos.,  385,  390,  393. 

Deserters,  Confed.,  288,  400. 

Devit  chimneys,  415. 

Devon,  W.  A'.,  487. 

Dick,  Jas.  L.,  4. 

Ding\\  all,  Jno.  S.,  349. 

Discipline,  Military,  178. 

Dix,  Jno.  A.,  275. 

Doctor  "  Green  Corn,"  309. 

Douglass,  A.,  481. 

Doughty,  Geo.  S.,  3. 

Downie,  Jno.,  75. 

Drake,  W.  B.,  4. 

Drawing  enemy's  fire,  375,  381. 

Drill  Masters,  3,  15. 

Drinking  water,  how  obtained,  99,  144, 

174,  310,  207,  285. 
Drum  Corps,  127,  165. 
Drum,  R.  C.,  501. 
Dry  Tortugas,  66. 
Duncan,  Jas.  H.,  380. 
Dunn,  Jno.,  392. 
Dunovant,  R.  G.  M.,  99. 
Dupont,  S.  F.,  91,  96- 
Dutch,  A.,  487. 
Early,  J.  A.,  25,  35. 
Eastern  Branch,  Md.,  66. 
East  Tennessee  Campaign,  333-429- 
East  Tennessee  and  Va.  R.  R.,  334,  3°8. 
Eastern  View,  Va.,  189. 
Edward's  battery,  314,  358- 
Edward  Walsh,  steamer,  296. 
Eighteenth  Corps,  476. 
Eighteenth  Ohio,  234. 


506 


INDEX. 


Eighth  Mass.,  2. 

Eighth  Mich.,  89-92,  109,  112,  122, 
129,  132,  143,  144,  149,  153,  et  seq., 
162,  171,  183,  218,  254,  273,  274, 
282-284,  292,  313,  322,  325,  328, 
342,  358,  359,  413,  414,  434,  482. 

Eighth  N.  Y.,  2. 

Eleventh  Conn.,  241. 

Eleventh  Corps,  355. 

Eleventh  N.  H.,  323. 

Elk  Ridge  road,  Tenn.,  428. 

Elliot,  S.   M.,  3,  5,  41,  56-59,  62,  480. 

Elliot,  S.  R.,  4,  42,  76,  77. 

Elliot,  W.  St.  Geo.,  4,  110,  113,  131, 
138,  146,  201,  206,  225,  248. 

Ellis,  H.  A.,  4,  41,50. 

Ellsworth,  E.  E.,  14. 

Ely,  Ralph,  482,  484. 

Ely's  Ford,  Va.,  444. 

Erin  Station,  Tenn.,  421. 

Evans,  N.  G.,  30,  32,  34,  163. 

Ewell,  R.  S.,  190,  192,  193,  444,  447. 

Ewen,  Genl.,  I,  5,  54. 

Fairfax  Court  House,  Va.,  18.  212,  215, 

225,  439. 

Falconer,  D.  G.,  3,  207,  216,  275. 
Falconer,  Jno.  A.,  4,  76. 
Falls'  Church,  Va.,  75,  79. 
Falmouth,  Va.,  179,  255-257. 
Farm  Ford,  Bull  Run,  33,  44,  206. 
Farnsworth,   A.,    116,    119,    125,    165, 

177,  182,  199,   200,  203,  207,   272, 

471,  487. 

Farragut,  D.  G.,  346. 
Farrish,  Jas.  A.,  3,  50,  51. 
Fenton,  W.  M.,  149. 
Ferrero,  Edw.,  was  not  in  command  of 

the   brigade   of  which    I7th    Mich. 

formed    a  part,  as   stated  on   page 

233;   241,  263,  317,  325,  340,  371, 

437,  443- 

Fifteenth  Corps,  304,  306,  313,  321. 
P'ifteenth  Ind.  battery,  368. 
Fifth  Alabama,  205. 
Fifth  corps,   227,  440,  444,  448,  458, 

466. 

Fifth  Mass.,  2. 
Fifth  Wis.,  74. 
Fiftieth  Pa.,  89,  90,  109,  1 1 2,  1 20,  129, 

132,  218,  219,  227,  416,  438. 
Fifty-First  N.  Y.,  209,  210,  241,  242, 

323- 

Fifty-First  Pa.,  209,  210,  241,  242. 
Filters,  water,  32,  70. 
Fire  Zouaves,  14. 


First  corps,  197,  227. 

First  Creek,  Knoxville,  337,  367. 

First  experience  in  battle,  51. 

First  Mass.  Cav.,  150. 

Plrst  Mich,  sharpshooters,  438,  484. 

First  Ohio,  18. 

First  S.  C.  Art.,  163. 

Fletcher,  widow,  250. 

Flower  Hill,  Miss.,  303,  320. 

Foraging,  347,  350  et  seq. 

Fort  Albany,  Va.,  47. 

Fort  Baker,  Va.,  72,  81. 

Fort  Beauregard,  S.  C.,  96,  98. 

Fort  Byington,  Tenn.,  367. 

Fort  Comstock,  Tenn.,  367. 

Fort  Corcoran,  V;i.,  n,  15. 

Fort  Ethan  Allen,  Va.,  72. 

Fort  Ellsworth,  Va.,  14. 

Fort  Hill,  Tenn.,  367,  368. 

Fort  Huntington  Smith,  Tenn.,  367. 

Fort  Jefferson,  G.  of  Mex.,  66. 

Fort  Loudon,  Tenn,  363. 

Fort  Marcy,  Va.,  72. 

Fort  Monroe,  Va.,  90,   91,    173,    179, 

272. 

Fort  Pulaski,  Ga.,  122. 
Fort  Rice,  Va.,  482. 
Fort  Sanders,  Tenn.,  364  et  seq. 
Fort  Sedgwick,  Va.,  481. 
Fort  Seward,  S.  C.,  98. 
Fort  Smith,  Va.,  72. 
Fort  Stedman,  Va.,  481. 
Fort  Sumter,  S.  C.,  22. 
Fort  Walker,  S.  C.,  93. 
Fort  Worth,  Va.,  225. 
Forty-Eighth  N.  Y.,  109,  112. 
Forty-Eighth  Pa.,  377. 
Forty-Fifth   Pa.,    232,    264,    311,    322, 

340,  341.359,416. 
Forty-Ninth  N.  Y.,  85. 
Forty-Seventh  N.  Y.,  109. 
Forty-Sixth  N.  Y.,  149,  179,  218. 
Foster,  Col.,  340,  342. 
Foster,  Jno.  G.,  407,  408,  415. 
Four-mile  creek,  Tenn.,  419. 
Fourteenth  U.  S.,  236. 
Fourth  S.  C.,  31. 
Fox  Gap,  Md.,  230. 
Fox,  G.  V.,  91. 
Franklin,  W.  B.,  227,  236,  238,  257- 

265. 

Frazer,  Gen'l,  329,  332. 
Frederick  City,  Md.,  229,  247. 
Fredericksburgh,  Va.,  179   et  seq.,  255 

et  seq.,  457,  471. 
Fredericksburgh,  battle  of,  257-266. 


INDEX. 


507 


French,  Gen'l,  306. 
French,  Rev.  Dr.,  118. 

Gainesville,  Va.,  29,  193. 

Gair,  Robert,  362,  462. 

Gallagher,  Corporal,  70. 

Gallagher,  Tennessee  farmer,  351. 

Garden's  Corners,  S.  C,  130. 

General  Hooker,  steamer,  471. 

General  statistics,  500. 

Georgetown,  D.  C.,  8  et  seq. 

Germania  Ford,  Va.,  443,  444. 

Germantown,  Va.,  18,  19. 

Getty,  George  \V.,  264,  277,  447. 

Gettysburg,  battle  of,  306,  398. 

Gilmore,  Major,  377. 

Gilmour,  James,  312,  313. 

Gitting's  battery,  368. 

Glengaries,  472. 

Gordonsville,  Va.,  444. 

Graham,  Alex.,  76,  in,  114,  "8,  '47» 

207. 
Graham's  battery,  208. 

Granger,  Gordon,  405,  406,  415. 

Grant,  U.  S.,  294,  301,  302,  304,  305, 
317,  323,  346,  355»  357,  40i,  414, 
435-437.  440,  442,  444,  448-45°. 
457,  468,  476,  479,  489- 

Grant's  Burial,  poem,  489. 

Grant's  Mills,  Miss.,  317. 

Graves,  Frank,  149. 

Great  Bethel,  17. 

Great  Republic,  ship,  90,  92. 

Great  Smoky  Mts.,  Tenn.,  332. 

Green  corn,  as  medicine,  308. 

"  Green  Corn,"  Doctor,  309. 

Green  river  bridge,  Ky.,  286,  292,  430. 

Gregg,  M.,  223. 

Gregg,  D.  McM.,  444- 

Griffin,  Chas.,  battery,  35,  36,  83. 

Griffin,  S.  G.,  483- 

Groveton,  Va.,  190,  193,  197. 

"  Guerillas,"  290,  297. 

Gun  boats,  95  et  seq.,  108,   1 10,    1 1 1 
H4,  I37»  r39,  143.  l6l>  l67- 

Hagadorn,  F.  I,.,  116. 

Hagerstown  road,  Md.,  229. 

Haggis,  an  attempt  to  make  a,  413. 

Haig,  Jas.  B.,  50. 

Haines'  Bluffs,  Miss.,  301,  307. 

Halleck,  H.  W.,  256. 

Hall's  Gap,  Ky.,  43°- 


Hampton,  Va.  475. 
Hampton  Roads,  Va.,  276. 


Hancock,  \V.  S.,  74,  444,  447,  448- 

450,  466,  468,  469. 
Hand  grenades,  383,  389,  397. 
Hanover  Town,  Va.,  476. 
Harmony  church,  Va.,  250. 
Harpers  Ferry,  Va.,  237,  247,  277. 
Harrisburgh,  Pa.,  434. 
Harrison's  Landing,  Va.,  174. 
Hartranft,  J.  F.,  358,  360,  481,  482. 
Hart's  Island,  N.  V.,  474,  486. 
Hascall,  Gen'l,  368. 
Hatcher's  Run,  Va.,  480. 
Havelocks,  71. 
Hawkes,  Geo.  P.,  377. 
Hawley,  Jos.  R.,  149. 
Haytown,  Va.,  184. 
Hays,  H.  T.,  222-224. 
Hazel  Run,  Va.,  263. 
Heath,  Virginia  family,  217. 
Heffron,  H.G.,2O5,  206,  474,475,  476> 

480,  484,  485. 
Heintzelman,  S.  P.,  29-31. 
Helena,  Ark.,  297. 
"  Hen  fruit  "  dinner,  a,  431. 
Henry  Hill,  the,  Va.,  34-51,  208,  209. 
Henshaw's  battery,  368. 
Hiawatha,  steamer,  324. 
Hickman's  bridge,  Ky.,  432. 
Hill,  A.  P.,  222,  444,  447,  448- 

Hill,  John,  380. 

Hilton  Head,  S.  C.,  93  et  "<!'>  *33,  l69- 

Hitchcock,  Lieut.,  377. 

Holmes,  T.  H  ,  22,  29. 

Home,  Patrick,  3. 

Holston,  river,  Tenn.,  332  et  seq. 

Hood,  J.  B  ,  359,  395- 

Hooker,  Jos.,  190,  192,  193,  227,  236, 
238,  257  et  seq.,  355. 

Hough's  Ferry,  Tenn.,  356,  357. 

Hughes,  T.  J.  487- 

Humphrey,  B.  G.,  395- 

Humphrey,  W.,  358. 

Hunger,  how  appeased,  412. 

"  Hungry  Hill,"  Va.,  252. 

Hunter/David,  29-31,   131,  l63,  '7°, 
171. 

Hutchison,  W.,  426. 

Hyattstown,  Md.,  228. 

Hyde,  B.  N.,  78- 

!  Illinois  Cen.  R.  R.,  295. 

Indians,  tame  ones,  461. 
i   Innes,  Jno.  W.,  50. 

"Invalid"  corps,  18. 

Ireland,  David,  3,  66,  73,  75~77,  8o- 
i  "  Iron-clads,"  297. 


508 


INDEX. 


Island  No.  Ten,  Tenn.,  297. 
Ives,  SV.  B.,  4,  50,  216. 

Jacksboro,  Tenn.,  428. 

Jackson  campaign,  306-323. 

Jackson,  Miss.,  311  et  seq. 

Jackson,  N.  I.,  475. 

Jackson,  T.  J.,  "Stonewall,"  34,185, 

187,  190,  192-198,  207,  216,  222, 

223,  237,  252,  261. 
Jackson,  W.  H.,  306. 
Jacobs,  Col.,  287. 
James  Island  Campaign,  134-168. 
Jamestown,  Ky.,  287  et  seq. 
Jefferson,  Md.,  247. 
Jefferson  market,  New  York,  472. 
Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  293. 
Jenkins,  Genl.,  361,  394,  395. 
Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  6,  472. 
Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  Va.,  482,  483. 
John  Rice,  steamer,  275. 
John's  Island,  S.  C.,  138. 
Johnson,  Edvv.,  469. 
Johnston,  J.   E.,  22,   26,   29,  49,     301, 

304,  312,  441. 
Joke,  a  ghastly,  269. 
Joke,  a  practical,  276. 
Jones,  Genl.,  394  et  seq. 
Jones,  James,  481. 
Judge,  Francis  W.,  123,  392,  480. 

Kalorama  Hill,  I).  C.,  69. 

"  Kanawha"  Division,  230,  247. 

Kearny,  Philip,  193,  197,  204,  220. 

Kelly's  Ford,  Va.,  186. 

Kennedy,   Crammond,   342,   355,  405, 

425,  447,  489. 

Kentucky  campaign,  280-293. 
Kershaw,  J.  B.,  396. 
Keyes,  E.  D.,  32,  35,  43. 
Kilts,  5,  13,  20. 
King,  J.  S.,  481. 
King,  Rufus,  69,  193. 
Kingston  road,  Tenn.,  358. 
Kinnear,  James,  157,  164. 
Kirkley,  J.  W.,  502. 
Kitchen  "busted,"  187. 
Knoxville,  siege  of,  362-403. 
Knoxville,  Tenn.,  337  etseq.,  362  et  seq., 

425- 
Knoxville  Whig  and   Rebel  Ventilator, 

337- 

Konkell's  battery,  368. 
Kryzanowski,  W.,  199. 


Laing,  Jos.,  4,   42,   50,    119,  165,  227, 

273,  462,  487. 
Lamar,  T.  G.,  163. 
Lancaster,  Ky.,  431. 
"Last  Ditch,"  the,  391. 
Lauman,  J.  G.,  315. 
Lawton,  A.  R.,  222. 
Leasure,  D.,   no,    113,   149,    197,264, 

449- 

Lebanon,  Ky.,  282,  292. 
Leckey,  D.  A.,  149. 
Ledbetter,  Genl.,  394. 
Lee,  R.  E.,  22,  184,  229,  244,  258,  442 

etseq.,  457,45s.  484- 
Leesboro,  Aid.,  228. 
Leesburgh,  Va.,  229. 
Legareville,  S.  C.,  138. 
Lenoir,  Tenn.,  346,  348  et  seq. 
Letters  from  home,  362,  409. 
Levvinsville,  Va.,  74  et  seq.,  82. 
Lewis'  Ford,  Va.,  23. 
Lexington,  Ky.,  294,  324,  330,  432. 
Lexington  and  Covington  R.  R.,  324. 
Leyden's  battery,  396. 
Libby  prison,  51. 
Lick  Creek,  Tenn.,  339. 
Lilly,  Capt.,  99,  114. 
Lincoln,  Abraham,   President,  13,  53, 

73,  87,  246,  249,  435,  439,  442,  485. 
Lindsay,  W.,  487. 
Little  Bethel,  Va,,  178. 
Little  River  turnpike,  Va.,  212",  215,222. 
Long  Bridge,  D.  C.,  225,  439. 
Longstreet,  James,  23,  25,  79,  193,  197, 

203,  235,  355,  375,  394,  405,  444, 

448,  449. 

Loring,  Genl.,  306. 
Loudon,  Tenn.,  346  et  seq. 
Louisiana  "Tigers,"  31,  44. 
Louisville,  Ky.,  280  et  seq. 
Lovetsville,  Va.,  250. 
Lusk,  W.  T.,   77,   199,  204,  216,  248, 

265. 

Mabry's  Hill,  Tenn.,  367,  394. 

Macpherson,  J.  A.,  3. 

Majestic,  steamer,  279. 

"  Major,"  a  dog,  127. 

Malaria,  1 66. 

Manassas  Gap  R.  R.,  29,  202,  216. 

Manansas  Junction,  22,  190,  439. 

Mansfield,  J.  K.,  177. 

Manson,  M.  D.,  284,  285. 

Manson,  W.,  3,  42,  50. 

Maps,  list  of,  xiv. 

Marshall  House,  Alexandria,  Va.,  14. 


INDEX. 


Marshall,  R.,  no,  113. 

Martin,).  S.  ("Crackers"),  4^5- 

Martinsburg,  Va.,  278. 

Marye's  Heights,  Va.,  179,  255,  258. 

Maryland  campaign,  226-245. 

Maryland  Heights,  237. 

"Massachusetts"  men,  330. 

"Massa  Linkum's  Sojers,"  102. 

Mathews,  Jos ,  488. 

Mathieson,  K.,  4. 

McClellan,  Geo.  B.,  55,  62,  73,  79,  87, 

226,  232,  248,  251. 
McDowell,  I.,  15-34,  '93,  2°8- 
McKenzie,  Jno.,  273. 
McLaw,  L.,  237,  363,  395-397- 
McLean,  Jas.,  480. 
McLean's  Ford,  Va.,  23. 
McLellan,  D.,  3,  60. 
McLetchie,  A.,  50. 
McNie,  R.,  4,  7°- 
Meade,   Geo.   G..    263,  436,  447-449, 

481. 

Memphis,  Tenn.,  297. 
Menzies,  J.  R.,  265. 
Meridian  Hill,  D.  C.,  54  et  seq.,  22$. 
Merrimac,  Confed.  ram,  174. 
Merritt,  Stephen,  Jr.,  487. 
Middletown,  Md.,  230. 
Miles,  D.  S.,  43,  237- 
Milldale,  Miss.,  301,320. 
Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  297. 
Milroy,  R.  H.,  199- 

Mine  Run,  Va.,  444,  (see  maP,  •No-  6") 
Mineral  waters,  326. 
Mississippi  pork,  318. 
Mississippi  river,  296  et  seq.,  324. 
Mississippi,  steamer,  172. 
Mississippi  thunder  storm,  309. 
Mitchell's  Ford,  Va.,  23. 
Monitor,  iron  clad,  174. 
Montgomery,  \V.,  327,  363. 
Moore,  O.  H.,  43°- 
Moore,  Thos.,  488. 
More,  John,  4,  'Oi,  in,  178,  201,  248, 

273,  275,  285,  326,  426,  459,  469- 
More,  M.,  149- 
Morgan,  E.  D.,  249. 
Morgan,  John,  277,  283,  287,  430. 
Morrison,    David,  4,  42,  69,  86,  112, 
116,   120,    125,  132,   156,    160,   162, 

212,    232,     247-249,     252,     254,    273, 

275,  284-286,  289,  3'6,  323,  340  et 
sg,  357-36o,  363,  368,  4i4,  4i8, 
420,  423-425,  440,  447-449,  461, 
474- 


Morristown,  Tenn.,  334,  349,  355,  409, 

424. 

Morrill,  Col.,  59. 
Mortar  boats,  297,  299. 
Mortar,  wooden,  402. 
"Mosquito"  fleet,  95. 
Mossy  creek,  Tenn.,  336,  423,  424. 
Mott's  battery,  77,  79. 
Mount  Vernon,  Va.,  486. 
Mt.  McGregor,  N.  Y.,  489. 
"  Mud  Campaign,"  268. 
Mule,  the  army,  327. 
Munro,  J.,  487. 
Munson's  Hill,  Va.,  84. 
Mutiny,  56-67. 
Mutton  broth,  252. 

Navy  Yard,  Washington,  66. 

Negroes,   100-102,  118,  121,  126,  300. 

Newlands,  A.,  374,  386. 

New  Market,  Md.,  229. 

New  Market,  Tenn.,  336,  423,  426. 

Newport  News,  Va.,   174  et  seq.,  272 

et  seq. 

Newport,  R.  L,  224. 
New  Year's  (1862)    no,  (1863)   267, 

(1864)413- 

Nicholasville,  Ky.,  324,  432. 

Nicolay,  J.  G.,  35- 
Nineteenth  Mass.,  262. 
Ninth  corps,  176  et  seq.,  480  et  seq. 
.  Ninth  N.  H.,  428. 
Nobles,  W.,  106. 
North  Anna  river,  Va.,  476. 
Norval,  Jas.,  3,  50,  487. 
Ny  river,  Va.,  459,  461. 


"Off  for  Washington,"  49. 

Ohio  river,  279  et  seq. 

"Old  Scots  Away,"  82. 

One  Hundredth  Pa.,  88,  90,  no,  122, 

132,   138,  142,  149,  l62»  172>  *79» 

200,  218,  264,  416,  449. 
"  On  to  Richmond,"  17, 
Orange  Co.  turnpike,  Va.,  458. 
Oranges,  bitter  and  sweet,  104. 
Ord,  E.  O.  C,  304,  313,  315,  320. 
Orleans,  Va.,  251,  253. 
Ostrander,  W.  A.  L.,  4- 
"Our  Thousand,"  poem,  426. 
Ox  road,  Va.,  213,  221,  223. 
Oysters,  105,  108. 

Pagues'  Mills,  Ky.,  331. 
Palace  Gardens,  New  York,  4. 
Palmetto  sharpshooters,  377. 


510 


INDEX. 


Pamunky  river,  Va.,  476. 

Parke,  J.  G.,    176,  294,  303,  321,  422, 

480,  481,  482,  483. 
Parkersburg,  Va.,  278. 
Parker's  store,  Va.,  444. 
Patterson,  Robt.,  23. 
Pawnee,  gun  boat,  167. 
Pearl  river,  Miss.,  313,  317. 
Pearson,  H.,  3. 
Pemberton,  J.  C.,  304. 
Pender,   W.   D.    (not   Bender,  as   on 

map  No.  8),  223. 
"  Peripatetic   Geography   Class,"    295, 

296. 

Petersburg,  Va.,  siege  of,  476,  484. 
Pets,  camp,  126. 
Philadelphia,  Pa  ,  6,  472. 
Philemont,  Va.,  250. 
Phisterer,  Fred.,  501. 
Picket  duty,  first  term  of,  12. 
Pier,  G.  W.,  4. 
Piper,  Michigan,  303. 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  434. 
Planet,  steamer,  323. 
Planter,  steamer,  128. 
Pleasanton,  A.,  250. 
Pleasant  Valley,  Md.,  237. 
"  Plug  uglies,"  7. 
Po  river,  Va.,  466. 
Pocataligo,  S.  C.,  139. 
Poe,  O.  M.,   76,  223,  254   (for    i8th 

read    I7th    Mich.),    280,    283-285, 

363.  369- 

Point  Isabelle,  Ky.,  429. 
Pollard,  E.  A.,  398. 
Ponton   bridges,   256,   258,   261,    266, 

Pope,  John,     182,  184,  192-194,  201- 

203,  226. 
Porter,  A.,  64. 
Porter.  D.  D.,  297,  299. 
Porter,  Fitz-John,  193,  194,  2O2. 
Port  Royal,  S.  C.,  92  et  seq. 
Port  Royal  Ferry,  S.  C.,   108  et  seq., 

1 20. 
Potomac  river,  8,   15,  179,  246,  272, 

439- 
Potter,  R.  B.,  303,  314,  353,  355,  401, 

416,  437,  447,  468-470,  481-483. 
Prayer,  the  Nation's,  poem,  344. 
Prisoner,  an  intelligent,  405. 
Prisoners,  Confed.,  329. 
Prospect  Hill,  Va.,  84. 

Quaker  guns,  167. 
Quinine  and  whiskey,  144. 


Raccoon  Ford,  Va.,  185. 

Radford,  R.  C.  W.,  43. 

Randolph's  battery,  221. 

Ranlett,  S.  A.,  301,  331. 

"  Rainy  Camp,"  319. 

Rappahannock  march,  182  et  seq. 

Rappahannock   river,   Va.,    179,    251, 

255  et  seq.,  443. 
Rappahannock  station,  Va.,  184,   187, 

443- 

Rapidan  river,  Va.,  443,  444. 
Rations,  first  government,  8. 
Rations,  "short,"  252  et  seq.,  347,  373, 

410-412. 

Rawhides,  for  shoes,  412. 
"  Rebel  yell,"  450. 
Rebel  sympathizers,  276. 
Recruiting  in  E.  Tenn.,  349. 
Rectortown,  Va.,  250. 
Reenlistment  question,  413. 
Regimental  statistics,  499. 
Reid  house,  at  Chantilly,  217,  221,  224. 
Reno,   Jesse    L.,    176,    182,   197,   208, 

209. 

Reynolds,  J.  F.,  193,  202,  212. 
Rheatown,  Tenn,  342. 
Richardson,  I.  B.,  18,  24,  25,  43. 
Richardson,  H.  R,  377. 
Ricketts'    (J.  B.),  battery,  35,  42. 
Ricketts,  J.  B.,  193,  203-205. 
Richmond,  Va ,    17,  22,   23,   51,   255, 

441-443,  457,  458. 
Rizer,  Peter,  82. 
Robertson,  T.  W.,  157. 
Robertson,  W.,  bandmaster,  3,  15,  60, 

88,  185. 

Robinson,  Gen'l,  238  (read  Rodman.) 
Robinson,  J.  C.,  223. 
Robinson  house,  at  Bull  Run,  34,  35. 
Rockwell's  battery,  141,  150,  155,  159, 

161,  162. 
Rodman,  I.  P.  (not  Gen'l  Robinson), 

23^. 

Roemer's  battery,  342,  368,  401. 
Rogersville  Junction,  Tenn.,  339,  345. 
Rohersville  pike,  Md.,  237. 
Rosa,  R.,  149. 
Rosecrans,  W.  S.,  294,  335. 
Ross,  Jos.,  487. 
Ross,  Walter,  165. 
Rosser,  T.  L.,  79. 
"Rotten  shot,"  101. 
•'Roundheads"  (see  One  Hundredth 

Pa.) 

Running  the  gauntlet,  417. 
Russell,  "Bull  Run,"  43. 


INDKX. 


511 


Russell  farm,  Va,,  460  et  seq. 
Rutledge,  Tenn,  349,  406. 

Sanders,  W.  P.,  364. 

Sandford,  C.  W.,  56,  59. 

Sandoval,  111.,  295. 

Sand-storm,  440. 

Sargent,  L.  M.,  Jr.,  150. 

Scammon,  E.  P.,  238. 

Schenck,  R.  C,   17,  18,  29,  43,  197, 

198. 

Schimmelpfennig,  A.,  199,  2OO. 
Schurz,  Carl,  199,  200. 
Scott,  T.  A.,  86. 

Scott,  Winfield,  13,  17,  22,  435. 
"Scrip,"  Confed.,  180. 
Seabrook,  S.  C.,  108  et  seq. 
Sears,  A.  P.,  150. 
Sea  Sickness,  92,  137. 
Secessionville,  S.  C.,  145  et  seq.,  398. 
Second  Bull  Run,  battle,  192-210. 
Second  corps,  227,  255,  444,  447>  448, 

468,  469,  43i,  483- 
Second  Creek,  Tenn.,  367. 
Second  Maine,  42. 
Second  Maryland,  241. 
Second  Michigan,  223,  254,  279,  283, 

287,314,376,383,401- 
Second  U.  S.  Cavalry,  64. 
Second  U.  S.  Infantry,  243. 
Second  Vermont,  82. 
Second  Wisconsin,  1 6,  37,  48- 
Sedgwick,  John,  444~448,  458,  466. 
Serenade,  Southern,  318. 
Seventeenth  corps,  306,  313,  31S- 

Seventeenth  Mich.,  232,  252,  254  (not 
1 8th  Mich.),  283,  360,  372. 

Seventh  Conn.,  149,  155,  l62- 

Seventh  Mich  ,  261,  262. 

Seventh  N.  Y.,  2,  472>  486. 

Seventh  R.  I.,  429- 

Seward,  W.  H.,  13- 

Seymour,  H.,  250. 

Seymour,  Ind.,  295. 

Shady  Grove  road,  Va.,  458. 

Shaler,  Alex.,  76,  78- 

Sharpsburg,  Md,  238,  243. 

Sharpsburg  road,  Md"' 23°>  237- 

Sharpshooters,  199,  216,  261,  370,  377 
381. 

Shaw,  J.  J.,  487- 

Shearer,  John,  273. 

Shelter-tents,  181. 

Shenandoah  Valley,  Va.,   22,   26,  229 
250,  278,  441. 

Sheridan,  P.  H.,  442,  457,  45*- 


Sherman,  Thomas  W.,  85,  86,  109,  115, 

120,  131. 
Sherman,  Wm.  T.,   16,  2O,  21,  25,  32, 

33,  35,  37,  38,  42,  44,  52»  3OI>  3°4- 
306,316,317,320,355,402,405-407, 

436,441. 

Shields'  battery,  368. 
Shillinglaw,  R.  T.,  4,  50,  227. 
Shooting  a  man  to  save  his  life,  379. 
Shucks'  Hall,  Lebanon,  286. 
Sickles,  D.  E.,  62. 

Sickness  among  troops,  107,  325,  326. 
Siege  of  Knoxville,  362-403. 
Siege  of  Petersburg,  474-484. 
Siege  of  Vicksburg,  297-305. 
Sigel,  F.,  187,  193,  197-200,  202,241. 
Simms'  battery,  368. 
Simpson,  W.,  275,  327. 
Sinclair,  J.  B.,  4. 
Sixteenth  corps,  306,  307,  313. 
Sixteenth  Ga.,  395. 
Sixteenth  Ky.,  283. 
Sixth  Conn.,  166. 

Sixth  corps,  227,  236,  444,  447,  458» 
466,469,481,  483,  484. 

Sixth  Mass.,  2,  6. 

Sixth  N.  H.,  241. 

Sixtieth  Ohio,  438,  440,  441. 

Sixty-Ninth  N.Y.,  2,  8,  n,  15,  16,  26, 
41,48,472,486. 

Slavery,  (see  negroes.) 

Sloan,  J.  B.  E.,  31. 

Smalls,  Robert,  128. 

Smith,  W.  F.,  72,  79,  82,  274,  476. 

Smith's  Plantation,  S.  C.,  171. 

Snuff  dipping,  335. 

"  Soldiers  of  the  Coosaw,"  116,  166. 

Somerset,  Ky.,  429. 

Sorties,  372,  376,  377. 

South  Anna  river,  Va.,  476. 

South  Mountain,  battle  of,  230-237. 

Spottsylvania,  battle  of,  459-47°- 

Spottsylvania  Court  House,    Va.,  457 
et  seq. 

Square  formed,  42. 

Stafford  Heights,  Va.,  257. 

St.  Andrew's  day  (1861),  105. 

Stanford,  Ky.,  43°'  43 1- 

Starke,  W.  £.,223. 

Statistics,  general,  500. 

Statistics,  regimental.  499. 

Steele,  F,  313,  3I5-    . 
I   Stern  wheelers,  river  boats,  279. 
Steubenville,  Ohio,  434- 
Stevensburg,  Va.,  185. 


512 


INDEX. 


Stevens,  Hazard,  76,  80,  88,  in,  160, 
204,  206,  213,  215,  216-223. 

Stevens,  Isaac  I.,  57-62,  65,  68,  71  (for 
1st  Brigade,  read  3rd,  page  72),  73, 
76,  78,  81-88,  90,  96,  109,  ill,  112, 
114-117,  119,  131,  132,  145,  149, 
160,  164,  165,  174,  176,  186,  199- 
202,  205,  206,  211,  212,  215,  218  et 
seq. 

Stevenson,  Ala.,  342. 

Stevenson,  T.  G.,  437. 

Stewart,  Genl.,  469. 

St.  Helena  Isl.,  S.  C,  101  et  seq. 

Stone  Bridge,  Bull  Run,  23,  26,  29-31, 

35»  44,  193.  T97,  207. 
Stono  Inlet  and  river,  S.  C.,  137  et  seq. 
Stores  destroyed,  192. 
Storm  at  sea,  92. 
Stragglers,  45. 
Strawberry  Plains,  Tenn.,  336,  409,  410, 

416  et  seq.,  423,  426. 
Stuart,  J.  E.  B.,  43,  79,  83,  192,  247. 
Sturgis,  S.  D.,  232,  238,  241. 
Sudley  Ford  and  Spring,  Va.,  29-31, 

193- 
Sudley  Road,  Va.,  32,  35,  37,  42,  51, 

193,  197,  202,  204,  205. 
Suffolk,  Va.,  275. 
Sumner,   E.  V.,   227,  238,  255,  257  et 

seq. 

"  Sunny  South,"  99. 
Sun  strokes,  307. 
Sutherland  Station,  Va.,  484. 
Swift,  F.  W.,  372. 
Sword  presentation,  165. 
Sykes,  Geo.,  43,  236,  238. 

"Tak  us  wi'  ye,"  86. 

Tatnall,  J,  95. 

Taylor,  Geo.,  273. 

Tazewell,  Tenn.,  333. 

Temperance  Hill,  Tenn.,  367. 

Tennant,  J.  H.,  488. 

Tennessee  and  Ky.  R.  R.,  370. 

Tennessee  campaign,  339-428. 

Tents,  our  first,  14. 

Tents,  shelter,  181. 

Theatre  party,  a,  432. 

"Their  country's  soldiers,"  425. 

Third  Md.,  449. 

Third  Vt.,  78. 

Thirst,  how  quenched,  101. 

Thirteenth  corps,  304,  306,  313,  320. 

Thirteenth  Miss.,  395. 

Thirteenth  N.  Y.,  2,  15,  16,  38,  48. 

Thirty-Eighth  N.  Y.,  116, 


j  Thirty-Fifth  Mass.,  241. 

!  Thirty-Sixth  Mass.,   264,  323,  330,  358, 

394,  425- 

Thomas,  G.  H.,  294. 
Thoroughfare  Gap,  Va,,  190,  193. 
Thunder  storm,  220,  309. 
"Tip,"  127. 

Tobacco,  women  using,  334. 
Totten,  Lieut.,  501. 
Tower  battery,  146,  156. 
Tree  felling,  72. 
Trenches,  digging,  302. 
Trimble,  I.  R.,  223. 
"True  Southerner,"  180. 
j  Turner's  Gap,  Md.,  230,  232,  236. 
Twelfth  corps,  227,  355. 
Twelfth  N.  Y.,  2. 
Twelfth  S.  C.,  99. 
Twentieth  Mass.,  262. 
Twentieth  Mich.,   254,   277,   279,  283, 

287,  425»  438. 
Twenty-Eighth  Mass.,    142,    143,    149, 

162,  172,  182,  218,  220. 
Twenty-Fifth  corps,  483. 
Twenty-Fifth  Mich.,  287,  430. 
Twenty-Fifth  N.  Y.,  2,  47. 
Twenty-First  Mass.,  209,  221,  241,  377, 

394,  449- 

Twenty-Fourth  corps,  483. 
Twenty-Ninth    Mass.,   315,    383,    401, 

421. 

Twenty-Seventh  Mich.,  323. 
Twenty-Third    corps,    277,    294,   330, 

335,  336,  339,  342,  357,  36°,  362, 
364,  368,  424,  425. 
Tyler,  Danl.,  16-18,  23,  25,  29. 

Union  Mills,  Va.,  23. 

Upperville,  Va.,  250. 

Valentines,  424. 

Vanderbilt,  C.,  89. 

Vanderbilt,  steamer,  89. 

Van  Horsen,  N.,  158. 

Varuna,  steamer  475. 

Veteran  Organization,  488. 

Vicksburg  campaign,  294-305. 

Viele,  E.  L.,  90. 

Vienna,  Va..  17,  18. 

Wabash,  Flag  Ship,  90,  96,  97. 

Wadsworth,  J.  S.,  450. 

Wagner,  Genl.,  283. 

Walcott,  C.  F.,  208,  213.  235. 

Walker,  Genl.,  306. 

Walters'  Gap.  Tenn.,  428. 

Warren,  G.  K.,  444,  447,  44§,  45§,  4^9- 

Warrenton,  Va.,  189,  193. 


I  M )  K  \  . 


513 


Warrenton  Junction,  Va.,  189,  253,  440 

e t  seq. 
Warrenton    Turnpike,  Va.,  21,   29-31, 

35,  44  et  seq.,   193,   194,    I97»   X9S, 

204,  212,  215,  220,  223,  224. 
Washington  Arsenal,  13. 
Washington,  D.  C,  8,  13,  54,  225-227, 

439,  47 !>  486. 
Washington,  George,  435. 
Washington,  Ind.,  295- 
Water,  how  obtained,  31,  99,  144.  !73» 

3°8,  3°9- 

Waterford,  Va.,  250. 
Waterloo,  Va.,  251. 
\Vatson,  Chas.,  310,  379. 
Welsh,  Thos.,  232.  233,  31 1 .  316,  324, 

3-5- 

\Vellington,  cited,  350. 
\Vestern  river  boats,  279. 
Wetmore,  P.  M.,  5. 
Weverton,  Md.,  247. 
Wheat,  R..  31,  33'  44- 
Whiskey,  99,  114,  H4-  l66-  4^5- 
White.  J.,  237,  357,  36°-  36-<  368- 
White  House,  Va.,  476. 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.,  iSS.  253, 
Whyte,  J.,3>  5°- 
W7idow  Fletcher,  250. 
Wild  Cat  Mt.,  328. 


Wilderness,  battle  of,  444-456. 

Wilder's  battery,  368. 

Willard's  hotel,  439. 

Willcox,  O.  B.,  182,  227,  232-235,  238, 

247,   265,   275,   355,  407,  416,  422, 

437^  4<>5  <  482,  484- 
William  E.  Ewell,  steamer,  301. 
Williams,  S.,  63. 
Wilmington  Isl.,  Ga.,  122. 
Wilson,  J.  H.,  444,  457. 
Winchester,  Va.,  250. 
Windsor,  J.,  323. 

Winter  quarters,  267,  273,  348,  415. 
Wire  entanglements,  367. 
Wofford,  W.  T.,  395- 
Woodbury,  A.,  183,  48^- 
Woodbury,  D.  P.,  256,  261. 
Wooden  mortar,  402. 
Wounded,  first  man,  24. 
Wright,  H.  G.,  90,  149,  150,  157-159* 

164,  167,  466. 
Wyatt,  Jas.,  120,  342. 

Yazoo  river,  Miss.,  301. 
Young,  Hugh,  425. 
Young's  Point,  La.,  297,  301. 

Zouaves,  Fire,  14. 

Zouaves,  Hawkins',  177,  243. 


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